*********
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............"
***********
*******
"You want to be my friend?" Jeff asked raising his eyebrow in shock.
"You didn't let me finish damnit! Don't you dare get mad over this now, I need to get all of it out first!" Summer exclaimed while throwing her hands in the air.
"So finish, I'm listening."
"I want to be your friend, the best one you've ever had. I want to spend the rest of my life waking up to you and your wacky hair. You want to know what I want from you Jeff? Honestly, all I want from you is to marry you. I want to love you and know that it's for always. To hell with everything and everyone else."
Jeff stood there totally speechless for the first time since he'd met her. He'd thought she was just going to say she loved him as a friend, he'd been hoping she would say what she had just said, but he wasn't going to make her if she wasn't ready. Apparently she was more then ready, and it had never sounded so good. This was the moment he'd been waiting for since the day they had first met two years ago.
"Wow."
"Jeff Hardy! I just bare my heart and soul to you, and all you can say is wow?"
"We never even had a real chance to date Summer, how can you trust your heart enough to want to marry me?"
"When I touch you, and it feels like the Fourth of July in my heart and the rest of my body, I know. I also know you feel it too. It's just meant to be..."
"You're right, I do feel it every time we touch. So I guess this is the part where I get down on my knees and ask you to marry me?" he said with a small grin.
"Not if you don't want too. I was just saying that I wanted to do it. It doesn't have to be right this minute."
"Actually, I'm a few steps ahead of you, but not as far in the chain at the moment. When I made you that CD of all the songs I was listening too and thinking of you, trying to forget you, I also bought you this. It's a promise from me to you, not a proposal."
Jeff passed Summer the small shimmering box and watched her open it. By the expression on her face, he knew he picked the right one.
"Jeff, it's beautiful!"
"You're beautiful Summer Ryan. What I want to know now is, will you promise yourself to me? So that when the time is right, we'll get married? Right now I just want to know that no matter what, you're going to be there with me for the rest of our lives. So will you promise?"
"Oh my god, of course I will Jeff. I love you!"
"Even though I'm now unemployed?"
"Yes even though you're unemployed. But actually, there's something I need to tell you before we go any further with this. It has something to do with being unemployed. You're going to go crazy when you hear what I've done now!"
Jeff rolled his eyes and took her into his arms for a tender embrace. He was absolutely sure he was in for a rude awakening with her news. He always was whenever she was around. Nothing ever turned out the way it was planned.
*********
*************
"Baby, what did you do? Surely it can't be as bad as your making it sound?"
Summer smiled as she remembered that day in Jim's office, the day that she learned Jeff was gone.
~~~~~~~~
"What could you have in mind that would blow my mind Ms. Ryan?" Jim asked. He was curious as to what this girl was up too.
"Well it's like this really Jim, I want to buy out my contract."
"Buy out your contract? Whatever for? You're doing well here, and you just got back!"
"I don't think you can use me the way I need to be used at this point in my career Jim. There are so many women competitors on Raw, and you need to focus on them, because frankly I just don't feel the same as I used to about this business."
"This is all stemming from me telling you about Jeff leaving isn't it? Does he mean that much to you? That you would give up your dreams?"
"Honestly Jim, it has nothing to do with Jeff and everything to do with me. You wanted to know about my trip Jim? Well my passion for this business left town when I did and it never came back with me. I love my music, and you can compare it to Jeff all you like, it wouldn't change the fact that right now I'm divided in what I want to do."
"Divided? Summer you are a tremendous talent. I'm asking you to re think what you're doing here. Don't do what I know you are about too. It can only hurt you in the end."
"I have too Jim. I'll post a formal goodbye to my fans on my site, so they don't worry too much when they don't see me for awhile. I've already agreed to writing the piece about Jeff, and posting what you've said, so don't worry, I won't let you down."
"Summer, do not do this, it's just not right."
"Not right for who Jim? Because it's something that I have to do for me. I can't just jump from my home in Cameron to Toronto and my studio, and then just fly all over the States for Raw shows. I know how much you want me to stay and keep doing this, but it's just not possible."
"Seeing as there really is no convincing you otherwise, I'll inform Vince of your decision. It won't be pretty I assure you, but you know that already. I just hope you know what you're doing here girl."
"I do Jim. This is the right move for me. I want to make music, it is my new dream, and it's almost a reality."
"Well, I guess that sums it all up then. I just hope that Jeff Hardy knows how lucky he is."
"He doesn't right now, but he will eventually. Jim, for what it's worth, I'm really sorry, I just can't do this anymore. The WWE prides itself on superstars having heart, and after all the politics and miscommunication, my heart lies somewhere else."
"Can I say something here Summer?"
"Of course you can Jim."
"From the moment that you walked through those doors, and took your spot here on the active roster, I knew you'd be big. When you started hanging out with Jeff Hardy, I knew it was only a matter of time before you really exploded onto the scene. You succeeded in doing that and I'm proud of you. Your heart left this business and I understand that, and I know where your heart lies. So do what you have to do. Just know you're welcome here anytime."
"Thank you Jim."
"How go home, and find your heart."
"What do you mean?"
"Summer, your heart is with Jeff in North Carolina. It's as plain as day to anyone who really knows you. I think it has been since the day you two met."
"You just might be right. I think it has been. Thanks so much for everything Jim. It was one hell of a ride."
~~~~~~~~~
"Jeff, I quit."
"What do you mean baby?" Jeff asked. He was starting to get concerned now. She had gotten so serious all of a sudden; he didn't know what to expect from her.
"I said that I quit. I no longer work with the WWE. I made a choice."
"You did what?"
"I quit. I bought my contract out from under them, so now I own myself again."
"Why did you do that?"
"I couldn't play the games anymore Jeff. I was going to ask for more time off anyway, but when I found out you left, well I knew at that moment that you took my heart with you. And I also knew that it wouldn't be coming back. My heart I mean. It just wasn't right anymore."
"You quit because of me?"
"Partially. I love you Jeff, and without you by my side, wrestling ceases to matter. There was a time when that's all that mattered to me, getting into the ring and scrapping it out. Now it's different, I have bigger dreams and better motivation."
"What are those dreams princess?"
"To be a singer mostly. Other then that, signing Peroxwhy?gen to a contract on my label would be the next dream. You share my vision, you always have. Jeff Hardy, you are my dream."
"Wow."
"Is that all you ever say now?" Summer said laughing.
Jeff saw her start to laugh and felt himself break down and start laughing too. He kissed Summer on her nose and looked deeply into her eyes. He knew it before, but it was so much more apparent now. He was so absolutely in love with this woman. She wasn't afraid to say how she really felt, especially where he was concerned, and he adored it.
"You are my dream too Summer. You have been for awhile now..."
"So I guess the question now is, do you still want to be with my even though I no longer have a job?"
"Of course I do! I think I might want you even more now, after your confession. What you did for me, and even for yourself, well it speaks volumes on how much you care. I love you Summer Ryan."
"Jeff, you know I love you too."
Pulling her close to him and bending down, he kissed her gently on the lips and felt the sparks give way again. This was what they had both been waiting for. This very moment in time. This was the love they had been waiting for since the day they had met. At that moment, Summer knew it was going to last, it just felt right. Interrupting her thoughts and pulling away from the kiss Jeff had a thought he needed answered.
"So when do I get to see that one piece lingerie we bought together a year ago? I think I've been a good boy long enough don't you?"
Grinning evilly, he pulled her with him up the stairs and to her bedroom. It was time he showed her how much he really loved her. Now that he had her back in his life, there was no way he was going to let her go.
**************
