****************
"I have to ask you something regarding my boys."
"You can ask me anything Gil, I am taking up space in your house remember?"
"What happened between you and Matthew? I want your view, I presume its part of the reason you're here."
"Gil, I love Matt, more then anyone I've ever been with, and there isn't much to compare too, believe me. The first time I met your boys over a year ago, Matt was someone I felt instantly attracted too. His love for this business became apparent too me almost instantly as well. I tried everything to get him to notice me, and to get to know him. Me and Jeff hit it off automatically because we're alike in a lot of ways, but I had a really hard time cracking Matt."
"And then?"
"I eventually did, break through the barrier that he was holding up, and it was just amazing. He was with me at every Raw, just because he wanted to be there, and he wasn't working. He was so caring and loving. He got offered a story line with his ex girlfriend Amy Dumas, on Smackdown, and that's when everything started changing. I could see it changing; at least I can now that I look back on it. But he told me that everything was great, and that his love for me never faltered. I did believe him."
"So when did you find out?"
"I surprised him, or I was going to surprise him at Smackdown that Tuesday, and I'm the one that got the surprise. I went there prepared to tell him that I was ready to progress to the next level, if you know what I mean, and I caught them together."
"Progress to what? Marriage?"
"No....God I honestly never thought I would be telling you of all people this, but I'm a virgin, and I was prepared to be with him. In every way that mattered."
"Um... I see. And he was having sex with Amy then?" Gil asked trying not to blush when Summer bared her soul.
"In a nutshell yeah. I ran much like I did now, and Jeff found me. He came everywhere with me, to the point that now I'm relying on him to always be there."
"Okay, I have another question for you now, but if you're still debating it, then don't answer. What are your feelings and intentions for my younger boy?"
"He's my best friend Gil. We are as close as two people can be. He's a missing link in the Summer Ryan puzzle, just like wrestling is."
"Do you have feelings for him now?"
"Yes, I do. I don't think it's love, not like Matt and me had, but he's helped my heart heal after the betrayal from Matt. It's still healing, but no matter where I go, or what I do, Jeff's a big part of the fact that is has been able to heal at all. If it were up to me I would have went running a long time ago. Straight out of Cameron. He's always been there that way, and I just never noticed before."
"Where do you stand with Matthew now?"
"We don't speak, and when I think about seeing him, I don't know if I'd hit him or want to make love to him again. Right now, as it stands, I love Matt, and I've got feelings starting to grow for Jeff that I don't really want to lose. I'm just really... I don't know. I guess I'm a mess."
"You're not a mess Summer. From an outsider point of view, you've got this aura about you when you talk about your job and your life, and even my boys. It's just hard right now. That's why you're here."
"Am I ever going to make sense of it all?"
Gil stopped a second and thought about his answer to her question. He didn't have any easy answers for her, and although he would love to help her and make the decisions for her, he just couldn't do it, it was her fight to win.
"If you stick with it. My advice to you is pretty simple sweetheart, and feel free to take it, my boys never did, but I think where my boys are concerned, you need to date them both. Before you give me that look, I mean you still love Matt, that much is obvious, but you need to know if what you feel for Jeff is rebounding what you feel for Matt. Connect with them both again, and then make your decision."
Summer just stood at the counter in complete shock. She had been listening so intently to what Gil was asking and telling her, that her tea had gotten cold in her hands. Placing it back down on the counter she still couldn't believe what she had heard. Was there a way she could date them both and get away with it? And would she even want too? It just didn't seem like the right thing to do to the guys. They both meant so much too her.
"How am I going to explain that to them?"
"Well Princess, you let me handle my boys. I like you, and whatever one of them you end up with, you're going to make him happy. So let me help you, make them happy."
*********
Matt opened the door to the house and let himself in. He heard his dad out in the back, and followed the voice all the way to the backyard. He immediately saw Summer sitting and reading her book as his father sat reading the paper. She didn't seem, as upset as she had been before, so the time here must be helping her.
"Stop disturbing our peace boy, and pull up a seat."
Summer looked up through her sunglasses and waved to him. Matt thought for sure he saw a smile form on her lips, but the sun was way to bright, so he couldn't tell.
'Sorry dad, I just came by to see how you're doing."
"Did you hear that Summer? I think my eldest boy just lied to me. That has to be the first time I think he's ever lied to me."
Summer laughed and patted the seat beside hers on the swing.
"I think he did lie to you Gil. Come on Matt, sit down and enjoy the quiet for awhile. I promise you I don't bite."
Matt was shell-shocked. The last time the two of them had spoke there was so much hurt and pain, and neither one really wanted to talk to the other and be honest about their feelings. Being here now, with Summer actually talking to him and smiling, well he was glad she was happy, but he couldn't help wondering where it was all coming from.
"I'm going to grab some food and let the two of you talk. You want more of that herbal concoction you've been drinking all day Summer?" Gil asked as she headed up towards the stairs leading to the kitchen.
"That would be great, I can help you if you'd like."
"Nah, just sit down and catch up with Matthew, I think I remember how you take it."
Gil walked into the house and Matt watched him go. He seemed happier just to have another person around the house. He felt bad that he'd never brought her here when they were dating.
"What are you thinking Matt?"
"How stupid it was, me not bringing you here when we were dating, and how I'm the one who basically made you run to my father to get away. He obviously thinks a lot over you."
"It was better meeting this way I believe. There is a lot less pressure to be the perfect girl for you. You can't be perfect when you're messed up."
"I'm sorry Summer... I..."
"Matt you know what? Don't do that anymore. I do not want to hear it anymore. I do not want to hear anymore apologies."
"I didn't come here to cause you anymore stress and put more pressure on you."
"I know you didn't. I guess I'm going to have to put the pressure on you."
Matt laughed and shot Summer a puzzled look. He had no idea what she was talking about, but at least she was happy, and had a smile on her face the size of New York. It was something he really missed seeing on her face.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm asking you out Matthew Moore Hardy, that's what I mean. Now the question remains, do you accept?"
"Summer are you sure you're alright?"
'I've been doing some thinking, and talking with your dad. Actually a lot of talking with your dad, and I am seeing things in a much clearer way now. So are you game or what?"
"I'd be delighted, but what about the past...how can you just move past that?"
"I'm not moving past anything. It's there and it still bothers me, I believe it always will, but I need to know where I stand. Am I standing with you, loving you or am I standing on my own? I still love you, even when you're an asshole Matt. I just have to figure out if it's right, given what's happened between us."
"That's more then fair. I love you too, just to put it on the record."
"I know, I can feel it."
"So where do we go with this new start of ours?"
" I have absolutely no idea. I didn't really think that far ahead Hun." Summer said breaking out in a fit of laughter, as Matt's face turned into a hole of mass confusion. He really had no idea how to take her and to be honest she was loving every minute of it.
"We aren't exclusive Matt. That much I know this time going in. I cannot go back to being Matt Hardy's girlfriend again. At least not until I know it's right."
"I understand completely, maybe not being together exclusively will make me not cheat on you. Have you talked to Jeff about this yet?"
"No actually, I haven't talked to him for a couple of days, not since before I came here. It's coming, I know, and I will deal with it on Monday in Seattle. He calls and checks in with your father, and then your dad tries to hide it, but he cares and I am fine. So things will begin to make sense soon enough."
"So you're doing alright, honestly?"
"Better then I have in months. I've gained so much just coming here, and your father is such an amazing man. He has taught me so much in the short time I am here."
"That he is. I'm going to go help him with the tea and the food I think he's making in there. We'll talk in a few minutes. And Summer?"
"Yeah Matt?"
"It's nice to see you smile again. I really missed it."
"It's nice to smile again Matt, let's just hope it stays that way."
*************
*******
-Raw one week later-
Summer threw her bag down in the locker room and checked her lipstick in the mirror. Matt had flown into Seattle with her and they'd had their very first date in their renewed relationship.
~~~~~
"So how's Shannon? Does he want to break away on his own yet?"
"No actually, you should see him Summer. He's so into this Mattitude thing, he's even come up with his own gimmick now. The Moore-Ons."
"You can't be serious, our Shan?" Summer burst out laughing. She knew that Shannon was an oddball, she had learned that the first day they met, but calling his followers Moore-Ons? This was just insanity.
"The one and only. He's really into it now. It's really great working with him too. It's like having a brother around again, but without the fighting."
"I'll bet it is. I haven't seen him in like forever though. I really should fly out and see him on Smack Down."
"Well we don't have anything happening next Monday, like as far as house shows go, so we could always fly out with you and make a day of it."
"I'd really like that Matt. Shannon was paying dues the same time as me with this business. I wish we could see each other more. How's his wife handling being married to a wrestler?"
"Pretty good from what Shannon tells me. She has her own career and it passes the time until he comes home."
"That's really good for her. I think it would suck to be a housewife when your husband is on the road so much. I think you could get really bored, really easily. I've actually been making some waves with my music again, and I can't wait to share that with Shannon and see what he thinks."
"He loves you, like everyone else seems to love you. So I think that no matter what music you do, he's going to support you. You are like another sister to him."
"Did you want to get this shopping over with before I have to go to the arena? I know how much you hate shopping, so I figure I should make it pretty painless for you."
"Yeah, what do you need to get?"
"I need a couple of new outfits to wear to the ring, and some new hair dye. I think it's time for a change."
~~~~~
She smiled as she remembered the entire day. The shopping trip was a real learning experience for her. Matt really did hate to shop, and she had dragged him pretty much everywhere with her. He made her laugh and surprisingly when he took her hand to hold it, she felt sparks. It just felt right holding his hand again. It had been a wonderful day overall, with no stress. The way it should have been before.
Sorting through her bag, she tried to find the outfit that her and Matt had picked out together. Jim and Eric always let her wear her own outfits to the ring, so finding the outfit from earlier, she pulled it out of her bag. The pants matched the ones that Matt wore on Smackdown, and she had a sheer blue shirt, with loose arms and free flowing strings. It looked like it came right out of the seventies. Matt had helped her pick it out and even she had to admit that it looked really good on her. She just had to wait for Jeff to help her dye her hair again when they were home.
Her thoughts flashed to Jeff and the fact that Gil had told him the score with Matt and her. He hadn't spoken to her since, and he hadn't even called Gil to check in and see how she was doing. She knew in the back of her mind, that dating both brothers was wrong, and she didn't want to hurt anyone, but it seemed that with Jeff she might have already done it.
Her locker room opened and dragged her out of her thoughts. Looking up she saw Trish standing there with a huge smile on her face.
"Hey Tish!!!!! How's my girl?"
"Confused Summer. Why are you in here smiling all over the place and Jeff's out there in a complete daze?"
"Well I know why I'm smiling, but the other, I don't know because Jeff hasn't been speaking to me. I haven't seen him since last Tuesday, when we had our talk."
"You guys are supposed to do another promo before the match right? You mean you guys haven't discussed it?"
"No, but we'll be ready for whatever Jim's got planned with the writers."
"Are you sure? Jeff is pretty out of it right now. I thought I'd find you two in here all over each other or something. Not what I'm seeing here now."
"Jesus Tish, give me some credit would ya girl? I've got to get dressed and do the whole makeup thing. Are you here to help?"
"Nah, I just came to catch up. I guess we can do it later or something. I don't want you to get behind."
"We can go out after the show, that is if you want. I don't fly home until late tomorrow."
"We'll see how I feel after my match, I've got Jazz tonight and you know that she's not the easiest person to handle. Have a good promo and match. I hope you can figure out everything with Jeff out there."
"Me too, later Tish!"
Hugging her friend gently and letting her go Summer went back to the task at hand, getting ready for this damn promo.
********
-Jeff's Locker-
"I don't know what went wrong Trish, she's seeing Matt again and my dad is totally behind it."
"Your Dad wouldn't do that knowing how you feel Jeff. Does he know how you feel about her?"
"Yes he knows, and he told me that he told her to do this until she knows once and for all who and what she wants."
"So make her want you! What is so hard with that? You have an advantage that your brother doesn't here Jeff. You are the one with the story line with her, which means the fans will be behind you guys. You have her on Raw."
"Trish, I just want her to be happy. No one knows more then me that she's in love with Matt. I just wish I knew where I fit is all."
"So go find out. Use this Jeff, like I said before. You have the upper hand here. She admitted her feelings to you right?"
"Yeah she did."
"Well she wants to date you, so you do it. She won't be able to resist once she sees how wonderful you two are together."
"I guess you're right. Her and Matt aren't serious, so I can make a move and not feel guilty about it."
"Use this Jeff, because if you don't, you're going to lose her."
*********
