Oh my, part ten already? Legality time. I own Tourniquet Kae, and June. Nati is natsukileeRKOlover's, and the remainder are one Vince McMahon's, of the WWE. That's life. I'm saddened that I do not own them, but I don't. Also, any songs mentioned are the property of their respective artists.
The plane back was long, but comforting. Kae sat between Shannon and Matt, who had met the duo at the airport. She rested her head on Shannon's shoulder at first, but then picked it up and closed inside herself for a while. Soon, both men had fallen asleep, leaving the girl to think over what she'd just left.
Upon arrival in Cameron, Matt ran over to his car happily. "Baby, I missed you!"
Kae laughed at the man, but climbed into the passenger seat. Shannon looked at her for a moment. "I'm not sitting in the back."
She looked back at her for a moment. "Why?"
"Because everyone knows the guy in the back has no balls." He shook his head, face serious.
Kae started laughing even harder than before, and slid over. "Fine. Sit."
It wasn't long before the three were at the Hardy residence, only three houses down from Shannon's. Gil came out to see the two non-relatives, tentatively reaching his arms out to Kae for a hug. He seemed like he blamed himself to an extent for what happened with Jeff. She hugged him hard, happy that he still liked her after everything. She sighed when they released the embrace, looking back and forth between the two Hardys. Only one missing. Shaking her head at her own thoughts, she looked at Shannon. "Well, it's great to see you Mr. Hardy, but Shan and I need to go get situated. I'll be over later to talk to you about... stuff."
Gil nodded knowingly, and Matt stepped forward, wrapping the short girl into a bear hug. "You better be careful girl."
She hugged him back for a moment, despite the crushing pressure on her ribs. "I will... But... I can't... breathe."
Matt released her with a laugh. "Sorry."
She shook her head, chuckling. "Yeah, yeah. I'll see you later Matty."
Kae looked at the blond man next to her placidly and nodded. The two started down the road to the home of one Shannon Moore.
In the backyard of the Hardy home, Kae sat across from Gil and Matt. The latter was eating, and the former was eyeing her placidly, waiting for the questions to start. She sighed. "So. You know why I'm here."
Both nodded. Matt swallowed audibly. "Whatcha gotta ask us, Kae?" he asked, his southern drawl drawn out more than usual.
She smiled reminiscently, noting that it was almost as deep as Jeff's at the moment, but shook her head. "Well... Jeff... you know he's stopped. But... do you know why he stopped?"
Gil looked down at his hands for a moment, then looked at Matt. "Personally, I don't know why. I just know he did. But I bet he told you, right Matt?"
The older brother nodded, putting down the plate he had been eating from. "Jeff said that the night you found out, he felt really guilty. He... he said that he had been tryin' to stop again, cause he didn't want you to know. You know how Jeff is. He keeps his problems to himself. But he said that he finally stopped that last time cause... Cause you sorta hinted that he could get you back if he cleaned up again."
The blond girl sighed, putting her head in her hands. "That's what I thought."
Matt moved to sit near her. "Jeff loves you, Kae. You know he loves you. But he's not perfect. His addictions are as bad as yours."
The girl nodded, taking in both what was being said and the thoughts running through her head. "Why did he start again in the first place? How long ago?"
Sighing, Gil stood. This part of the conversation was not his.
Matt spoke quietly. "Well, he started again when he hurt his back again. But it took over like last time. He's sworn off them completely now, regardless of how bad he's hurtin'. But it was that time about three months after y'all got together. When he fell offa that ladder. Hurt him pretty bad at the time. He just hoped he could control it." He reached a hand up and put it on her back, rubbing it lightly in a comforting manner.
She looked up at him. "He never told me..." She shook her head, then turned her gaze to Gil. "Now, to you Mr. Hardy."
"Call me Gil, Kae. You're family at this point." He smiled kindly at her.
She smiled back, then continued. "So, Gil, I gotta know... If I were to go back with Jeff, take that chance again... Would you welcome me back? Would you be okay with this? I mean, after all I did..."
Gil shook his head, silencing her. "You should know I'd welcome you back. Jeff kinda brought all this on himself. At first anyway. You're the best thing he's ever had. You're everything he needs right now."
Kae smiled and stood, wrapping both men in a hug. They were her family. She sighed and started toward the gate. "Well, thank you guys, for all of this. You... you don't know what this means to me. I just need to think things over a bit."
They nodded, and Matt walked over. "I'm walkin' you home, girlie."
She looked up at him, eyebrow raised. "Two things, Matty. One, its only three houses down. And two, I kicked your ass. I think I'd be protecting you."
He laughed, sticking his tongue out at her. "Well, I'm walkin' ya anyway."
Kae ran her hands over her old guitar for a moment, reveling in a memory, of the first day she'd gotten it.
An older blond man and brunette woman stood next to a 16 year old Kae. They smiled when she picked up the guitar. It fit in her hands so well, so comfortably, it was like it belonged there. She smiled at them pleasantly, running a finger over the strings. "God, it's perfect!"
The three-quarters acoustic was built for her size, and her already calloused fingers ran over the strings comfortably. She looked back at her father for a moment, the glint in his eye betraying that it had been his choice. He had always supported her music.
Her mother, though smiling, looked like she didn't like the present at all. Kae sighed. Her mother didn't want her to have this. Just like the huge trampoline the girl planned on buying as soon as she had the money. She didn't support the "illogical" dreams of Kae's livelihood.
The blond shook her head, smile returning, and started to play an old riff she'd learned in class. "I'm carrying your love with me… West Virginia down to Tennessee… I'll be moving with the good Lord's speed… Carrying your love with me…"
Coming back to the present, she started playing again, into a tape recorder. Her newly acquired accent came through clearly when she started to sing. Shannon heard her at the door, and stood there to listen as the girl poured her heart out into the little device in front of her. She replayed it when she was done with a smile. She ejected the tape and wrote a name on it, dropping it into an envelope to be handed over at a later date.
When she looked up at the door, a dark blush crawled over her cheeks. She sighed. "How long were you there?"
He smiled. "The whole song, Kae. It's for him, isn't it?"
She nodded with a smile. "I told you, I figured myself out. Now I just gotta decide if I want to do this or not."
A knock at the front door led Kae from her workout. She looked out the window in front of her, eyes narrowing when she saw a dark-haired familiar girl there. She opened it slowly, suddenly very happy that Nati was nearby that day. Brown eyes glazing over, she sighed. "What do you want now, June? I told you. I'm done."
The dark-haired girl shook her head. "Kae, wait! I... I know that, but... I wanted to give you something back." The girl held out a necklace, strong thread holding a long series of silver beads together. The main pendant held nothing but a K on it.
Sighing, the blond took it. "Thank you June. You already have yours back."
The other girl nodded, gesturing to the necklace she wore. She smiled at Kae, then turned to walk away.
Thinking, Kae called out to her. "Hey, June!" The brunette turned, a sad look on her face. "You're forgiven. But we won't be what we were before."
With a thoughtful nod, the girl left. "I know, Kae. I know."
Placing the necklace in the envelope with the tape, Kae sat back on the bed in her room. Shannon had cleared out the guest room for her to stay in. Folding her hands behind her head, she hit play on her radio, letting the music wash over her. Thoughts went back to the first day she'd gotten out of training, the first day she went home in pain.
Opening the front door was an effort. Jeff beeped from the car and waved goodbye. The girl smiled, waved back, and winced as she started into the house. No sooner was the door open than a pair of small girls jumped on her. Kae started laughing, despite the grimace on her face. "Hey, guys. How you doin'?" She hugged her little sisters before putting them down promptly. She walked back toward the kitchen, smiling at her father, and then went past her mother. The older woman didn't even nod at her daughter, just went on her way. Kae sighed, picking up the last of her packed bags to take out to Nati's car. She smiled at everyone on her way out. "Well, I'm headed out now, guys. I'll be home on some of the holidays, alright?" The girls and man nodded, though again there was no reply from her mother. With a saddened sigh, Kae opened the door one last time, and walked out into the future she'd never thought would be real.
Shaking her head, Kae remembered sobbing that night, but then being happy the next day. She was happy now, too. Her mother had forgiven her. Her father was still supportive. More than anything, her family was almost whole again. All she needed was someone to bring home, and they'd be all together again.
Hand reaching for the K on her neck, the girl smiled internally. Part of her said it would happen. Part of her said, Jeff was okay. Part of her said, she was ready for this.
It had been almost two months since Kae, Matt, and Shannon went on vacation. The girl had spent most of the time with the two boys, goofing around and rehabing her knee. This particular day, they sat out by Matt's pool, debating if it was warm enough to jump in. She closed her eyes behind her glasses, pushing them up lazily. Because of this, she missed the smirk exchanged between the two. Before she knew it, two pairs of hands picked her up, one set on her knees and the other on her shoulders. Her eyes snapped open just before she was thrown into the pool. She closed them just as quickly, pushed her hair back in the water, and came up for air with a glare that could kill in her eyes. Matt sat back on his chair already, whistling in what should have been an innocent manner. Shannon had the most angelic smile on his face. Seeing the two boys, Kae couldn't help but laugh. She shook her head at them, shivering a bit. "Definitely not warm enough to be in here yet." She splashed at Shannon, who ran to get her a towel, and found Gil laughing at her as well. "Thanks, Gil. Thanks."
He smiled. "Any time, Kae. Any time."
The doorbell rang from the front of the house, and a deep southern voice echoed through the house. "I'm home, guys!" The speaker came quickly to the back of the house, surprised to see a soaking wet Kae in the pool in front of him. "Uh... hi Kae."
The blond eyed him for a moment before a smile crossed her face. "Hey Jeff. Long time no see."
The boy left later that day, much to Kae's dismay. She sat on Shannon's bed that night for a while, feeling better while in his company. Shannon started speaking an hour or so after she sat down. "You miss him now too, huh?"
She nodded, angry with herself for not pulling him aside earlier. She had talked to him, though, which was more than expected. With a little laugh, she looked at her hand. "I have this envelope in my room. There's a tape and a necklace in there for him. And I'm working on a note to go with it. I just... I couldn't give it to him yet. I don't know why, but..."
Shannon put a hand on her back. "You need to take it slow, Kae. You'll heal better that way."
The blond nodded happily, then started toward the door. "Yeah, you're right Shan. I'll wait for New Year's. We'll both have a resolution to make then."
Ah, and now she's sure where she stands. ;) But, there's still the question of Jeff. Will he take her back? After being away for so long, can he take her back? And, most of all, how will it happen if it does? Find out in Extreme Training Part Eleven: Christmas, New Years, and the Return!