*!Here I Am, With Open Arms!*

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One Week Later

-Phone Call To Gil-

" Have you talked to my youngest boy lately?"

"I've seen him, even said a few words to him, but he's changed a lot too Gil. I knew we couldn't just go back to the way things were before I left town."

"Did you even ask him?"

"To have things go back to normal? No I didn't, because it's not fair to either one of us. I just miss my best friend now. None of the messed up relationship stuff we had."

"Did you tell him that?"

"No. It just didn't seem right at the time I guess."

"Well I know my boys, and neither one of them are mind readers. How is Jeff supposed to know what you want princess?"

"He can go to my web-site and read the commentary. Gil, I told him I loved him there, because I couldn't do it to his face. He loves reading them, so I'm hoping he will read this one and see that I bared my heart and soul in it."

"Do you think he's read it?"

"I have no idea, and I don't know if I wanna find out."

***********

Summer said goodbye to Gil and sat back and listened to the CD again. Gil was right though, Jeff wasn't a mind reader. How was he supposed to know how she was feeling? He wasn't inside of her head. Sitting back more in the chair and drinking her herbal tea, she let herself go with the music. So lost in the music, she almost didn't hear the knock on her door that was until the person knocked a second time. When she opened the door and saw Jeff standing there, she didn't know what she was in for.

"Can I come in? Or should I just stand out here in this heat a little longer?" he said with a grin.

"Come in, of course. Sorry, you just took me by surprise is all. Summer moved out of the way so Jeff could come into the house.

"So what brings you by?"

"I just wanted to talk to you, do you have a few minutes?" Jeff asked softly.

"I've got all the time in the world Jeff. What's on your mind?"

"You have been."

"Oh, so what about me exactly?"

"All in due time princess. Are you still listening to that CD I made you?"

"Yeah, it's kind of stuck on play these days." Summer said smiling.

"I'm glad you liked it. I missed you Summer. These last six months were really hard on me, especially not having you around to sound off on."

"I'm sorry Jeff. I know I should have been here, to figure everything out with you, and make sense of it all. I missed you too. More then you will ever really know."

"So did everything go well in Toronto? Did you do what you needed to do with the studio?"

"Yes I did actually, and I want to bring you there the next time I go out. It's something that you and I can share together. Everything in Toronto was different, but it was something that I would do all over again. I would just change the way I did some of it."

"So you like your studio?"

"I do very much so. I would like it much more if you would be a part of it with me."

Looking at Summer and seeing the look in her eyes, Jeff decided to blow it off and keep it neutral between them. He didn't want to overstep his boundaries too soon. It would work out eventually.

"What did you figure out while you were away?"

"I figured out what I want out of my life, and who really is important for that to happen. I also took a long look at the lack of family I have and made some changes there."

"And who is that?"

"Gil and Trish are really like the only family I have, and after being away so long, I found things about them that I truly love, and will forever. Then there's you."

"Where do I fit in your picture for your life?"

"The honest truth is this. My life doesn't mean anything, and this whole dream I've created means shit, if you aren't in it Jeffrey Nero Hardy. That's how it's always been. It just took me a little longer to figure it all out and come to terms with it."

"I'll always be there for you princess, you know that. That's why I'm here now."

Summer sighed and took a long look at the man standing in front of her. For every inch of dyed hair, and every scar from wrestling he had, he was the best thing that had ever happened in her life. The fact that he wasn't getting any hints she was throwing at him, made her believe he hadn't read her commentary after all. There was no easy way to explain how she was feeling. The journal entry was supposed to be enough!

"Jeff I know things have probably changed a lot for you since I left, especially where we are concerned, and I would understand completely you wanting them too, but the one thing that never wavered while I was away, was my deep and serene love for you."

"I know..." Jeff choked out looking away from her eyes.

"What do you mean you know?"

"I read your commentary and journal entries babe. You were pretty out there with the whole confessing your love for me. I'd have been blind not to see it staring me right in the face." He replied with a smile breaking through the seriousness of his face.

"Okay Mr. I know everything, where do we go from here?"

"Before I answer you, I have one question of my own, and I want an honest answer here. This determines where we go."

"Okay shoot Jeff, I think I'm ready for anything."

"Do you still love Matt?" Jeff asked, his expression losing the smile and turning to stone as he waited for her answer.

"I always will, he's my friend."

"I mean, is he a potential road block for us if we date? Do I have to worry about him being a problem and keeping us apart?"

"No he won't be, and you don't have to worry. We've talked, and it's done. I think I always knew that your brother and me couldn't be more then what we are now. He's my friend and that's all."

With a sigh of relief, Jeff looked directly into Summer's eyes to ask her the most important question. He just hoped she was prepared to give a good answer.

"And what exactly are we? What do you want from me Summer?" he asked quietly.

"Well Jeff, I want to be your friend............"

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