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Summary: Jeff Hardy has got a lot more then wrestling on his mind lately, and it all centers around a certain WWE Diva. Will he admit his true feelings in time or will he lose his chance forever.
Authors Note: So I realized that I had written ahead of what I was posting the last time I updated, which is why most of you saw two chapter updates at once. I apologize for not adding them up. I was under the assumption I had and then apparently had not. Sorry for any confusion this caused. I appreciate the time you all took to read the chapters and let me know what you thought though. Its great in terms of writing the actual story because it lets me know you like what I have done and will continue to do :)
She was astounded by the land, it having been so long since she had been there. The grass was freshly cut and looked after, looking healthier then ever. The back woods looked inviting and she was shocked that she hadn't wanted to come back sooner. At the very least she understood why Matt and Jeff refused to leave Cameron and this land. It was absolutely a person's dream destination. Even if they didn't know it and had to be pushed to come here.
Jeff had insisted of course that when she was released from the hospital that she accompany him home to Cameron. Which was why she was here now and was enjoying it so much. Sure she liked having someone love her so much that they wanted to make sure she was taken care of, but there was more too this. This was something she needed without even knowing it.
"So are you happy that I talked you into this now Ash?" the voice said behind her, facial hair tickling her skin and causing her to shiver.
"Yes Jeff I am. You were right. Is that what you wanted to hear?"she asked, turning around to see the smile plastered on his face. He had always looked happy, content even but there was a different look there through the smile now. A smile that spoke volumes to her. A smile that truly meant being home.
Just being around him this way now made her feel like she had come home.
"Actually it was, so I'm glad you admitted it." he said with a laugh and a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm going to get us some lemonade, why don't you make yourself comfortable on the porch and I'll be right back."
She nodded and followed him as far as the old school porch swing that looked awfully lonely on the porch by which is now sat. It looked like it did the last time she had been here, not used very much and in need of repair.
She took a chance and sat down on it, hearing the metal squeal as she did, laughing despite herself. If she was going to stay here for any long amount of time, the first action she was going to take was to make this swing look new again. It deserved that much.
Ashley didn't notice as the shadow of a body came from the side of the house and up the stairs of the porch. She had closed her eyes and was enjoying the sounds of nature around her, wondering to herself if this was what Jeff experienced when he wanted to paint or write music.
When the person cleared their throat her eyes flew open instantly and she came face to face with the visitor who had now interrupted what were her most private thoughts. If she had wanted the day to have less drama she had obviously come to the wrong place.
Drama was now waiting on the porch with her, begging to sit down and make itself known.
"Matt." she stated, trying not to show how much it bothered her that he was here with her now. She looked past him toward the front door and begged Jeff silently to come out before she had to deal with what was about to become a very painful moment.
She hadn't talked to him since the day in the hotel room when she had passed out from the exhaustion of not sleeping or eating and she had been hoping never to see him again. She knew there was no way to avoid it though. Better now then later when she really wasn't in the mood.
"I thought it was you when Jeff pulled up earlier. I don't mean to intrude."
She wanted to roll her eyes and pretend that she didn't care but she did. Hearing that he hadn't cared at all had cut her like a knife. She had never wanted to believe Matt could have acted that way. But he had and that was why they were the way they were now.
"Your brother went to get us some lemonade. If you want to talk to him I'm sure he will be out in a second."
Matt sat down on the creaky swing then, careful not to sit too close to her and cause her any more pain. He looked at her and before she had a chance to speak he put his hands up to silence her.
"I want to say something before you go off on me Ashley. I deserve whatever you want to say to me believe me. I know that. I just think that it's time I did what my brother told me to do and be honest with you. The way I should have been when we were together."
She waited a minute to be sure he was done before answering. "I'm listening."
"Jeff was right about one thing. I got into a relationship too soon with you after Amy and I went through what we did. I still loved her more then I even realized at the time and I should have taken the time to fully let go. I made a mistake there but I did love you. At least in the only way I could at the time. You might have been an Amy replacement to some people but you really weren't to me."
Well would wonders never cease? He was being as candid as he could and as much as she didn't want to hear it now, she appreciated it. It would have been nice to know all of this back when they had gotten together but there was a time when late was better then never. This had to be one of those times.
"Thank you." she said, not sure what other words she could use in that moment. What could be said that hadn't already been?
"I don't need you to thank me Ashley. I want you to at least understand what I was going through back then and now when I found you with my brother. I saw the kiss the first night at the diner and it cut like a knife. I just didn't want to see you get hurt. I held on to something that was not mine to hang onto and I'm sorry."
What did she say now? Did she tell him that it was over and she wanted to put it all behind her? Because that was indeed what she wanted to do, but there was more to it now. If they were going to put this behind them then Matt needed to get over what she had done with Jeff. She loved the younger Hardy brother and there was nothing Matt could do to change it.
"Your apology is accepted Matt, but its not only me that you need to say it too anymore. Your brother was honest with you about how he felt and you treated him like it didn't even matter. That he didn't even matter. If you really are sorry for what happened between us in the past then you need to go and make up with your brother."
Matt stood from the swing then and made his way to the door, but before he could get to it and go inside to speak with Jeff, his brother walked through the door, almost dropping the drinks he held. His face turned red in anger.
"Matt just what the hell are you doing here?"
Before Matt could speak, Ashley did it for him. She knew deep down that Jeff would be as against talking to his brother now as she had been when she realized he was there. She just knew that the time had come for them all to stop acting like children and be there for one another, despite the way things had turned out in their personal lives.
"Jeff; he is here to make amends. I think you should hear him out. For yourself and for me."