Authors Note: So, as I said earlier I was at the RAW taping the night after Backlash, and Mr. Hardy was NOT looking happy with the world. Also, if you watch the ReelWrestling video with him at the airport after Backlash, he looks even more pissed at life. Let's pretend this is why.

And just in case you're wondering, yes I broke myself with the image of Matt in a towel and then trying to shimmy one-handed into basketball shorts. Mmm-hmm!

P.S. Go check out the story banner on my profile! Oooh, Ahhhhh ;)

Again, Big huge hugs, thanks, and cookies to Brie Seven for the reviews!

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

If This Isn't Love - Chapter 7


Matt stepped out of the bathroom, holding the towel that was wrapped around his waist with his good hand. He had a hell of a time getting undressed one-handed, and had to take a shower with his right hand sticking out of the curtain, which did nothing to improve his mood. He was feeling angry at himself and sorry for himself, not a good combination.

Emma was not in the room, which pissed him off even further. He figured from the lack of Lucas that she had taken him out one last time for the night, and she had been nice enough to clean up the mess his earlier outburst had made and laid out a pair of basketball shorts for him to put on. Even so, in Matt's surly mood he couldn't help but think she should have been in the room the instant he had gotten out of the shower to check on him. He would have done the same for her.

As if on cue the door opened and Lucas came into the room, Emma trailing behind and holding the end of the leash. She unhooked his harness and he bounded onto the bed, wagging his entire little body at the sight of Matt. Matt patted him on the head and muttered.

"What's that?" Emma asked.

"I said 'at least someone's happy to see me'," Matt repeated. He dropped his towel and after a few moments of wriggling, managed to get into the basketball shorts before laying across his side of the bed and pretending to find something fascinating about the ceiling.

Emma stood watching, unsure of what to say. She knew with the mood Matt was in the smallest thing could make him go off again, which was the last thing she wanted. They had only a few fights in the time they had been together, enough to count on one hand, and Emma wanted to keep it that way. She knew from experience the angrier he got, the angrier she got, and it could go for days before they cooled off.

She sighed, tossing Lucas' leash onto the dresser and pulling off the hoodie she had worn to take the dog out. Deciding to ignore Matt's previous, somewhat petulant comment, she grabbed the tv remote.

"Want to watch a movie?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Matt hopefully.

"Nope." He didn't even look at her.

"Want to see what Jeff and Beth are up to?"

"Nope."

"Want to call Shane?"

"Nope." The same tone every time, and it was making Emma's blood boil.

"Want to pull the stick out of your ass Matthew?" she asked pointedly, sitting down at the desk chair and opening her laptop.

"What?"

"Oh, you heard me," Emma replied, turning in her chair to look at her boyfriend. His brown eyes were dark with anger, and she was sure her hazel ones matched. They were both taking out their fears and frustrations on each other, and neither one particularly cared at that moment.

"Nice Emma, thanks. Just what I needed to hear," Matt said, beginning to stand up. Emma stood up as well.

"Yes Matt, it's exactly what you need to hear," Emma said, her voice rising. "Look, I'm sorry you messed up your hand, but that is NOT my fault and you do NOT need to take it out on me! I sat here all night worried about you for you to come back and act like a child? Or worse, act like somehow the entire world owes you something because a shitty stunt that shouldn't have been done in the first place went bad? Well excuse me for not getting the memo Mr. Hardy, but you know what? Shit happens. Deal with it."

Matt balled his good hand into a fist, trying to calm himself down. It didn't work, and the next thing he knew he was saying what had been on his mind and in his heart for months.

"You know what? THIS is exactly why we haven't taken the next step! You wanna know why we aren't married like Jeff and Beth or Shannon and Julie? Because I need someone who is going to support me! I don't want to come back from working my ass off in the ring to someone who is going to make me feel even shittier than I did getting worked over!" Emma saw red.

"Not supportive?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Who is there EVERY night taking care of your house and your dog when you're not? Me! Who is the first one to drop everything and join you out on the road? Oh, that's me again! Who waits up every night when you're gone until you call, worried that you're hurt, afraid something terrible has happened? THAT WOULD BE ME MATTHEW. I have given everything to you over the past three years, hell I've put my life on hold for you so you could live your dream, and never ONCE have I asked you to do anything in return, and I've certainly never mentioned anything about us getting married, although clearly you've been against it for a while now. So you know what Matt? If I'm so un-supportive, maybe I should just leave now!"

"Maybe you should!" Matt fired back. They stared at each other for a few seconds, both willing the other to say something first. When neither did, Emma quickly threw her laptop into her backpack, grabbed her suitcase and sweatshirt, and stormed out the door.

"Motherfucker!" Matt swore, punching the wall with his good hand, not caring if he broke that one too. Lucas whimpered and took cover under the table as the adjoining room door opened and Jeff came through, looking concerned.

"The hell is going on?" he questioned, having heard the yelling and thud. Matt sat at the edge of the bed, putting his head into his hands.

"She's gone Jeff," Matt said matter-of-factly, trying to choke back tears.

"What?" Jeff asked again.

"Emma's gone. I flipped out and she left. Damnit!" he cried in frustration. Jeff took a deep breath, running his hand through his hair as he looked into his own room. Beth was already putting on her shoes in preparation to go after Emma.

"Look, she couldn't have gone far, Beth will go get her, talk her down, then you guys can work this out ok?" Jeff said calmly, trying to sooth his older brother.

"Yeah," Matt shook his head, sniffling as the built up tears from the entire nights events started falling. "I hope you're right."

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