Authors Note: Once again I took liberties with time frames and time zones, as well as the layout for Matt's house (although I'm nearly positive his master bedroom is right off the kitchen, which to me is bizzare-o-Lucas.)

Disclaimer: If I owned Matt Hardy, we'd all be in trouble. Emma Keating = mine all mine!

If This Isn't Love - Chapter 2


Matt could feel the tension releasing from his shoulders as soon as he stepped onto the front porch and slipped his key into the lock. From the other side he could hear Lucas whimpering excitedly and he shushed him as he opened the door, scooping him into his arms.

"Hey Lucas," he cooed, allowing the dog to lick his face and giving him kisses on the head. He set the small white terrior down before he dropped his bag of gear in the foyer and wheeled his suitcase off the porch, shutting the door quietly behind him. It was amazing how his body immediately responded to being home, all the worries and stress of the road and the shows just melted away and even the aching muscles and sore bruised bones didn't seem so bad. He set his black UNC ballcap on the kitchen island and emptied out his pockets, placing his wallet, keys, and cellphone all down before removing his shoes and walking across the hallway to his bedroom door.

Matt could see his girlfriend curled up under the sheets, her hair fanned out across the pillow, her cellphone still clutched in her hand, waiting for his call. He wasn't supposed to be home until the following afternoon, but he had caught a red-eye at the last minute to surprise her, Jeff's treat. She had sounded so worried and stressed when she'd been told about his accident, it broke Matt's heart to hear it and not be able to comfort and reassure her. Needless to say, Jeff felt like the worlds biggest dick too and was more than happy to try to make ammends to both of them.

Lucas, sensing what the nights events would entail, made himself comfy on the couch as Matt entered the bedroom, closing the door quietly. He slipped out of his clothes and lifted the sheets, resting a knee on the bed before sliding in behind Emma and wrapping his arms around her tiny waist and dropping a kiss on her neck. She sighed happily and rolled over to face him, still mostly asleep, before she opened her eyes and realized what was going on, her face lighting up with happiness.

"You're home!" she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling her to him for a long kiss. When they finally broke apart she rested her forehead against his. "What are you doing home?"

"Caught an earlier flight," Matt explained, grinning. His voice, tinged with that Carolina accent, still managed to give her goosebumps. Emma reached up and stroked his cheek with her fingertips as he held her close, tracing his jawline, his nose, his lips. Even in the darkness she could see the bruising over his right eye.

"Does it hurt?" she asked with concern.

"Nah .. it was actually pretty cool. Got a great fan reaction," Matt chuckled. Emma shook her head, every part of Matthew Moore Hardy lived and breathed for his fans, and she couldn't help but love him for it. She had never seen someone give all of themselves day in and day out just to bring happiness to others .. even it was at their own physical expense.

She arched up and softly placed a kiss over the stitches, choking back the emotion that stuck in her throat at the thought of the man she loved more than anything being hurt. Matt sighed and pulled her body even closer to his, so that every inch of their skin was touching.

"Woman, if you're gonna kiss me after two weeks, at least make it somewhere I can kiss back," he teased, grinning as he pressed his lips to hers again.

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