*!Bonding At The Hardy House!*

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Summer woke up to the streaming light threw her window. She rubbed her eyes and looked around, realizing where she was. She stretched and got out of the bed. She looked out the window and saw the most peaceful vision she'd ever seen. There were acres of land beautifully strewn out for miles and glowing in the sun.

"So this is what Jeff saw everyday growing up."

"He did, but after so many years, I think he grew to hate it."

Summer spun around on her heels as Gil came up behind her and looked out at his land. The land had belonged to the Hardy's for hundred of years, dating back as far as some of his ancestors. He was very proud to say he owned it, and even worked off of it over the years.

"Mr. Hardy, did I wake you?"

"Missy, I get up with the birds, so you can't possibly think you woke me. Did you sleep well?"

"Like a baby actually. You only live a few miles from me, but it's the most peaceful sleep I've had in months. It's like being somewhere completely different, but good."

"Wonderful! I'm glad, you looked like you needed it last night young lady."

"I did, I just didn't know how much."

"Well there's coffee downstairs when you're ready to come down. Oh and some of that tea you drink that smells funny. Jeff said you liked them a lot so I picked some up for you."

"You do not have to go out of your way for me Mr. Hardy. I can adapt to the way that you live. After all this is your home." Summer smiled a little as she thought about Jeff's father going and buying her the herbal tea she liked. He was really trying to make her feel like she was at home here, and it felt so nice she had to smile.

"Call me Gil, and no you won't do that. You're my guest here, and you will act and be treated as such. Which means I get to make you some of that stuff you drink."

"Well thank you Gil. You really didn't have to do this though."

"I know I didn't. I'll let you get cleaned up and see you downstairs."

"Okay, and thanks again."

Summer surveyed the room. It looked like Gil hadn't changed anything since the boys were here. There were pictures everywhere, some older then others. She still couldn't believe when she jumped in her car, that she would have ended up here. But thinking back, it felt like the right move. She needed clarity and this was the right place to get it. Somewhere neutral, where she could just be herself and not worry about people cheating and any other pain.

She grabbed her clothes and shampoo and made a beeline for the bathroom. She'd be able to think more clearly once she'd had a shower. Plus, she didn't want to keep Gil waiting for too long downstairs.

*************

"She's fine son. She just woke up, and I'll take good care of her, don't worry."

"Thanks Dad, and by the way, Matt is coming by there today, so you might want to warn her."

"Son, don't you think she needs to deal with all of this head on, that is if she ever wants to feel like herself again?"

"I suppose so. I just don't want to make it worse you know?"

Jeff was more afraid of what might happen if Matt came face to face with Summer again. He knew that as much as she wanted to move on and try with him, Matt was still very much in control of her heart.

"I'm here all day, and I will make sure it doesn't get any worse. Is that okay?"

"Thanks Dad."

"Call me later boy, and I'll let you know how she is."

***********

Summer came downstairs and into the kitchen as Gil was putting the phone back on the hook. It seemed that he was a lot like her parents were towards the new age things. The telephone just looked like it was from the seventies. She gave herself a mental reminder to buy him a new one for his birthday, or Christmas, whatever came first. She took the cup that was placed on the counter and poured herself a cup of water with her herbal tea.

"So, Summer Ryan, would you like to tell me what happened?"

"I got overwhelmed that's all. Too much was happening at the same time and I just couldn't deal properly I suppose."

"You mean Matt and Jeff?"

"Mostly, but my career as well. I just had a major medical scare, and it's made me do a lot of thinking."

"Along what lines?"

"I'm thinking about taking a break from the wrestling business and going back to my music. I miss it, and the best part is, no serious injuries, except for the occasional bruised ego thing."

Gil looked up surprised. He knew that his son was really into the music business now, and even thinking about leaving wrestling to pursue it, but he never would have thought that she was thinking the same thing. Especially after Jeff telling him about her drive and dedication for the business.

"Is that the right thing for you to do? Will that be the life that you really want for yourself?"

"I honestly don't know. When I got into this business, I put everything in my life on hold. All of the dreams that I wanted to make reality, because wrestling was the real dream, the very first one. Wrestling has always been such a huge part of who I am that it just seemed right for me to put the rest in the back and worry about it later. Now I think the time has come for me to branch out."

"Just like Matt. That boy knew he wanted to be a wrestler from birth. He always had that same drive to succeed in the wrestling business. Everyone else be damned."

Summer smiled. That was the one thing that ultimately drew her to Matt in the first place. His uncanny desire for their business. Even after so many years of running the roads and wrestling all over the world, his desire and heart never wavered. Jeff on the other hand was the complete polar opposite.

"How did you get to where you are right now girl?"

"Where I am sitting here in your kitchen? Or where I am in the business?"

"The business for the moment. How did you get there?"

"I watched wrestling on television a lot growing up and that's how it started. When I got older I just got more athletic and I took it one step further and joined the Independent scene. Then came the WWE. That's all there is too tell really. I love that larger then life quality that comes with being a wrestler. I fly off the ropes and it's my own personal high. I just love what I do."

"Then why stop that? The way I see it young lady is this. You love it, it completes the puzzle to whoever Summer Ryan really is. So you should stick with it."

"Is that what you told Jeff?"

"Jeff is my little oddball. God rest Ruby's soul because I don't think she could have pictured Jeff like this."

"He didn't do anything you expected did he?"

"No, that's not what I meant. He actually did everything I expected. The one thing I learned by raising Jeff is he's different from all the other guys. He's got so many ideas in his head and he'll do every single one of them. He's very unique and I honestly think he's better then wrestling."

"I agree, he is better then wrestling, at least the way the business is now. He's starting to realize it more now I think. He's really into his music, and well coming home and being with his family more. I think in a lot of ways, it worked wonders on him."

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