Farwell, Carolina

The girl slept soundly.

Her luscious red hair strewn about her shoulders, a soft mess that her sister wanted to reach out and smooth away from her gentle face as she slept. She was the cutest thing Kalli McMahon had ever seen when she was sleeping...

Not that she wasn’t cute all the time.

She felt bad even being in her room at nearly 6 o’clock in the morning, dreading drawing her from her slumbers. Heidi Jacobs, if it was at all possible, was even *less* a morning person than Kalli was. Kalli sighed. Sadly Heidi’s sleep would need to be cut short this morning...

Because Kalli McMahon was jumping ship.

“Tell me what to do, Jeff. I don’t know what to do.”

Again he looked into her...

And then he looked into himself.

He leant forward, softly pressing his lips to her forehead before telling her softly, “I think you should go inside and get dressed...”

She nodded, a sad smile on her face, her willingness to do whatever he asked apparent...

“And then I think you should leave.”

It was at Jeff’s request she was leaving.

But ultimately, this home was his. If anyone should be made to leave, it was her. That was only fair. She had been the one to stray, she had been the one to destroy them... She had robbed herself of the truest love she had ever known.

Now it was time to go.

When Jeff had first told her to leave, she had been at a total loss. Where would she go? Where could she go? Her family life was a mess, and the last place she wanted to be right now was around her warring siblings. She had pondered going to Jason’s and Tiara’s, but the chance of further confrontation with Adam had significantly altered her views on that option.

Normally, she would go to Matt.

But Matt Hardy wasn’t an option anymore.

In going to him, she would only help widen the ever-growing distance between her and Jeff. And she didn’t want that. If it was the only thing she knew anymore, it was that losing Jeff...

It was too hard. It was too much.

She couldn’t do it.

The McMahon Heiress sighed.

What she did have to do now though was give him his space.

And what she needed was some of her own.

She was so confused, so ultimately torn right now, that any decision she tried to make could turn out to be the wrong one. And she didn’t want that. Either she pursued Matt, or she fought for Jeff. But whatever the choice was she would make, that would be it. That would be forever.

She had to make the right decision.

For all of their sakes.

The girl leant forward on the bed, whispering softly, her fingers gently creeping to Heidi’s cheek, “Heidi? Honey? Wake up?” But the girl did not stir. Kalli took a gentle hold of her shoulders, shaking her slightly, “Heidi?”

In response she got a muffled, “Fuck... Off...”

Kalli grinned. Her sister was ever the charmer when she was trying to sleep.

“Heidi, I’m sorry honey, but you gotta wake up.” There were slight hints of urgency in her voice, “We have to head off.”

One eye lazily slipped open and Heidi eyed her suspiciously through it, “We have to head off?” She yawned, her voice still thick with exhaustion, “And just where are we heading?”

“Home.” Kalli told her.

Yawning again the girl asked, “To Connecticut?”

Heidi was suddenly very awake. She sat up in the bed, her face locked on her sisters. “To Australia? Why??? Kalli... You hate it at home! Why would you even...” Her face fell, “You told Jeff, didn’t you?” Kalli nodded and she sighed, “How is he?”

Despite her desperate attempts at strength, Kalli started to choke up a little as she told her younger sister, “I’m not sure. He asked me to leave, then he walked away... When I went into the bedroom to get some gear together, he had locked himself in the en suite. When I needed to get in there, he just...” She took a steadying breath, “He just walked past me and walked out. I’m not even sure where he is right now.”

“Kalli...” Heidi murmured, gently rubbing her sister’s arm.

The McMahon shrugged, “I have nowhere else to go, Heidi. Besides,” she smiled softly, “What better place to be away from all of this. No Jeff, no Matt, no nothing... Just you, me and Amy down the Cape.”

Little hints of excitement filled Heidi’s eyes, “You’re going to Cape Otway?”

“Why not?” Kalli smiled softly. “All that seclusion, the bush, the ocean... There won’t be anyone for miles. Just us in that huge house. You can draw all you like, I can write... If Amy can tear herself away from that boyfriend of hers long enough she can...” Kalli grinned, “Whatever it is that Amy does these days.” The two girls exchanged a smile, before Kalli’s faded away and she whispered, “But I want to leave now, Heidi. We can take the Mustang and drive to Connecticut. I’ll tell Mom and Dad I’m going, I’ll leave the car there, then we’ll fly out...”

Heidi cut her off, her voice as serious as the look on her face, “Are you sure you want to leave America?”

Kalli pondered a moment and then she nodded, “Yeah,” she murmured a little surprised, “For the first time in my life, I want out of America.” She broke away, patting her sister’s knee. “I have a pit stop to make first. I’ll be back in an hour. Be ready, okay?” And with that she got up, leaving the room.

Heidi looked after her.

Kalli might want out of America.

But she wasn’t really sure Australia was the place she needed to be.

"Uh..." Suddenly even more nervous herself, she replied,"Gilbert? It's Kalli."

"Kalli? Thank God. Is Jeff okay?"

"Yeah. He's okay. Banged up but okay. The Trainers are looking at him now..."

He cut her off, concern in his voice, "What did he do? Is it his back..?"

"Gilbert." Her voice was firm, surprising even herself. "We don't know yet, okay? Matt and I are waiting now... But he got up and walked out of there. If anything, he's probably just jarred his back or something. As soon as they tell us I'll let you know, but..." Gently, "He's gonna be okay."

There was a long, uncomfortable pause for a moment, and Kalli looked to Matt unknowingly. He slipped an arm around her and hugged her in response as Gilbert asked, "Is Matt okay?"

Kalli smiled softly, "Yeah. Freaking right about now, but okay." She asked, "Are *you* okay?"

He broke off and she told him, "I know." She cleared her throat and said, "As soon as I hear something more, Gilbert, I promise I'll let you know. In fact, as soon as they're done checking Jeff, I'll call and you can talk to him if you like."

She could almost hear the little smile in his voice, "Thankyou, Kalli." He added sweetly, his affection for her in his voice; "You take care of my boys, okay?"

Kalli giggled softly, "You got it, Daddy-O." She whispered, "Bye..."

Kalli McMahon couldn’t even remember how she had started calling Gilbert Hardy that, she just remembered that she always had.

The father of the three Hardy boys was one of the people she treasured most in her life. He had become throughout the years a loving father figure for her...

And above all else, he had become her friend.

They had always gotten along well... But it had been his realization that the fiery little McMahon who devoted so much of her time to his sons was actually in love with one of his boys that had drawn them closer.

“I love you, Beth...”

They had been, at that time, the most painful words Kalli had ever heard. It was the night of Jeff’s 22nd birthday party. Jeff had disappeared from in the house when Gilbert had decided it was time to cut the cake. She’d offered to look for him...

And she’s found him, locked in an adoring embrace with a girl Kalli had loathed with intense jealousy from the instant they had met.

She had held his heart when Kalli loved him. She with her smiles and her drawl and her sweetness...

“I love you, Beth...”

Crying desperately, hurt beyond words, she had run...

Right smack bang into Gilbert as he round the corner of the garage.

One look at her tears, and Gilbert Hardy had known that Kalli McMahon was in love with his son.

To the best of her knowledge, prior to that day, only Matt and Krissy had known, although Heidi had suspected from their phone conversations and Linda vowed and declared she had known for years before the two eventually got together.

But no one had quite supported her the way Gilbert did.

She grinned as she stepped onto the front porch of the Hardy home, it really was nice to have the man you loved’s father on side.

Coming to a halt at the door, she pondered knocking, but not sure if Matt was home, and not wanting to wake him and be forced into yet another awkward and painful confrontation, she checked the door. It clicked, but did not open. She sighed. Locked.

If only she had brought her keys.

Pondering a moment, she smiled mischievously, moving around the side of the house to Gilbert’s window. Hoping he didn’t take her for another zany fan trying to catch a glimpse of Matt Hardy through his bedroom window, she knocked softly.

She groaned, calling out softly before knocking again, “Gilbert? Gilbert, wake up. It’s Kalli.”

She groaned again, about to turn and walk back to the front of the house when the window was torn open. “Kalli, what are you doing here at 6am?”

Gasping sharply, whirling around with a hand clutching her breast, her heart pounding she growled softly at him, “You scared the shit out of me.” He simply smiled in response and after the brief flush of fright left her she gave him a gentle smile. “Daddy-O,” she whispered, “I need to talk to you.”

And Gilbert Hardy could tell by the look on her face that she did. She really did.

When he had heard the whole of her story, Gilbert sighed, “Kalli...” He shook his head, murmuring again, “Oh, Kalli.”

Tears streaming down her face as she nestled into Gilbert’s arms where he hugged her tightly, she nodded, “I know... I made such a mess.”

Gilbert nodded softly, “You have.” He tilted her face up slightly to look at her, “Do you love Matt, Kalli?”

“I love Jeff,” she whispered defensively.

He smiled softly, “Oh I know that. I’ve always known that. My question is, do you love Matt?”

“Tell Jeff that I got ringside seats for Heidi and I." Her voice shook as she spoke, "Tell him I’ll see him after the show." She turned to go.

"Kalli?" She paused and he asked, "We need to talk about last night. We do."

She shook her head, her back remaining turned to him, "No, Matt. We never need to talk about last night again."

She was so willing to erase all that remained of that night...

It was just her heart that kept her holding on.

Kalleasto McMahon and Matt Hardy were connected. They had *always* been connected.

And so overwhelmed was she by that one night together that she would be lying if she said she hadn’t considered the possibility that she and Matt were maybe meant to be together. That this was where their lives had lead them.

But when it had come time to tell Jeff... To accept the fate that she knew should would have to succumb to...

She couldn’t do it.

She couldn’t live without Jeff Hardy.

She loved him and that was all she knew.

Hopefully that little slice of insanity would be cleared up when she stepped back from the entire situation just to breathe.

“I can’t tell you, Daddy-O.” She whispered, “I can’t tell you what I feel for Matt.”

He sighed. He had feared as much.

“Just...” She looked into Gilbert’s eyes and told him, “Just... Promise me... Promise me you won’t let Jeff and Matt fight, Gilbert. Please.”

“Kalli,” he told her honestly, “I’m not sure I can do much to stop it.”

She nodded knowingly, solemnly accepting, “I know, but try.” She sighed softly, trying to wipe the tears from her face as she sniffled, “I destroyed two families on Monday night, Gilbert. Krissy and Matt’s...” Guilt filled her, “And I think... I think maybe yours...”

He shook his head, “No, Kalli. My boys are strong... They can get through this.”

“Can they?” She asked painfully.

And again Gilbert Hardy sighed.

“Well,” The girl climbed up out of his arms, straightening herself up as she stood. “I should go...” She cleared her throat, “I told Heidi I would only be an hour.”

“Okay,” The man nodded at her, “You’ll stay in touch, won‘t you?”

Kalli smiled lovingly, “I promise.” She bent over and kissed the mans forehead, “Thankyou, Daddy-O.” And before he could say anything else, she walked away, not wanting to force Gilbert Hardy to watch her cry any longer.

He would have enough to deal with...

Because Kalli knew that Matt and Jeff Hardy were quite probably about to go to war.

The Hardy looked up from the bike he was tinkering with, somehow managing a smile when he saw Heidi in the doorway of the garage, “Hey, Heidi.”

She returned his smile, stepping into the garage, her hands shoved a little nervously into the back pockets of her jeans. “Whatcha doing?”

“Just fine-tuning.” He stood up, setting down the screwdriver he was holding and grabbing the rag he had hung over the seat of the bike, wiping his hands. “Needs a few more revs I think.”

Heidi smiled, shrugging warmly, “It’s all Greek to me.” She moved over to stand beside him as he looked down at the dirt bike. The two stood in silence a while and then she told him quietly, “Kalli and I are leaving.”

Pain flashed on his face but he managed to face it, “Yeah.” He whispered, “I know.”

Again they were silent.

“Do you know?” Jeff asked eventually, “About that happened?”

Pondering how she should respond a moment before replying, Heidi nodded, “Yeah.”

“Was she...” He cleared his throat when he choked up a little, asking again, “Was she upset?” He looked over to her, “When she told you. Was she upset?”

Heidi’s eyes were locked on hers, "What is it, Kalli?"

Kalli wanted to say nothing, she wanted to tell her just to go back to her seat and what the match, but she couldn’t.

She sobbed painfully, "I’ve made such a mess, Heidi. I’ve ruined everything." Heidi reached her arms out for her and she stepped into them, welcoming the comfort of them. "Everything is wrong..."

"Ssshhh, Kalli." Heidi held her tightly, frightened by just how upset she was. She rubbed her back softly, "Tell me what happened. How did you make a mess?"

Surprising herself she stammered without hesitation, "I slept with Matt, Heidi... I slept with Matt..."

“Upset might be an understatement.” Heidi told him. Silence ascended again until Heidi reached out, gently resting a hand on his arm, “I am sorry, Jeff.”

“Yeah...” He sighed, “Me too.”

Her face filled with compassion, Heidi asked, “What are you going to do now?”

Things with Kalli had been so good since they had gotten back together. Everything... Her reactions to his matches, her attitude outside the ring... Every day that passed things got a little better.

Prior to their break up, he might have almost understood her infidelity with Matt.

Now it did little more than break him.

He almost didn’t know what hurt worst though. The knowledge that she had slept with his brother...

Or the knowledge that she had broken her own heart.

“I don’t know what comes next, Heidi.” He sighed, “All I know is that I love her...” He sighed softly, “I love her... And this fucking hurts.” His eyes locked on Heidi’s, “Why did she do it, Heidi? Does she love him? Does she want to be with him?”

"Please don’t tell Jeff, Heidi. Please. Please."

Heidi shook her head, her surprise still evident, "I won’t... Kalli, you know I won’t... But... Why? How? I mean... You love Jeff. You *love* Jeff, why would you..?"

She trailed away at a total loss and Kalli sobbed, "I don’t know, Heidi... I don’t know how it happened, or why, he was just there and we were fighting... He was so angry at me. He blamed me for everything. For Krissy’s baby, for he and Krissy, everything, and I was so hurt and I just started yelling at him and... Everything just happened all at once..." She was shaking horribly, "I don’t know what to do... I’m so confused, Heidi. I’m so confused."

“Jeff...” She stammered.

"Kalli?" Heidi asked gently, "What’s going to happen, with you and Matt? Do you want..." She eyed her curiously, "Do you *want* to be with him?"

Kalli looked at her sister a long time, and then she gave her the most truthful answer she had in her. "I don’t know, Heidi. I don’t know anything anymore."

The girl shook her head. “I wish I knew what to tell you.” She sighed, “But even Kalli doesn’t know what she wants anymore.” She told him honestly, in the faint hope it would appease him somehow, “But I can tell you...” Again her eyes met his, “I have never seen her as hurt as she is right now.”

Jeff couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice, “Maybe she should have thought of that before now...”

“Yeah,” Heidi nodded, her voice soft, “Maybe she should have.” She whispered, “She does love you though.”

“Do you love me?”

She looked up now, her sobs silenced, her eyes on his. “You know I do,” she stated, her passion for him in her voice.

Jeff shook his head slightly and then murmured ever so quietly, “And... Are you... Are you in love with me?”

Kalli reached out, pushing back strands of his soft blue hair with one hand, the other pressing gently against his cheek, she leant forward, looking into his eyes with determination she didn’t know she had. “I live you, I breathe you... When I wake up in the morning, you’re my very first thought... When I go to bed at night, I thank God for the day I just had with you and I pray I’ll have another just like it when I wake the next day... My life is you, Jeff.” She whispered, “If I’m not in love with you...”

That was all there was to it really.

“I know,” Jeff murmured, “I know she does.”

“Heidi?” Kalli’s voice could be heard calling from the drive, “Heidi? Hey girl, you ready yet?”

The girl looked to Jeff, “You know, it’s not too late, if you want to see her off...”

“No,” Jeff shook his head, “I think I’ll just stay here.”

Heidi sighed, “Okay.” Again she rest a hand on his arm, leaning over to press her lips tenderly to his cheek, “Take it easy, Jeff.” She smiled, “I hope this isn’t the last time we get to see each other.”

Jeff smiled softly, taking her meaning, “Me too.” He took her hand, squeezing it gently, “Have a safe trip,” his eyes met hers again, “Take care of her for me.”

She nodded, “I will.” She gave him one last little smile...

“Goodbye, Jeff.” And with that, she turned and walked out of the shed, giving Kalli a soothing little wave when she spotted her, moving over to stand next to her. “Hey.”

“Hey, girl, you all ready?”

Heidi nodded, “My bags are in the trunk and everything.”

“Didn’t look there, huh?”

Kalli blushed slightly, “I only ever leave my gear on the back seat.” She motioned for her to hop in the car. “Come on...”

“Wait...” Heidi took a hold of her sister’s door as she opened it. “Don’t you wanna say goodbye to Jeff?”

Kalli looked across at the garage somehow, knowing he would be in there, “No.” She shook her head softly, “I’m not ready to do that yet.” And with that she climbed into the car, murmuring to herself, “I’ll never be ready to do that.” She started the car, throwing a look back at her younger sister, “Let’s go, Heidi.”

Heidi sighed, moving around to the passenger side door and hoping in.

All she could do now was hope that one day...

This could be right again.