Home Is Where Her Heart Is

She should have known that trying to sneak up to her bedroom to drop off her things without being noticed would be impossible the moment she had stepped in the doors of the McMahon family Mansion, but Kalli McMahon had still cursed to herself when she had heard footsteps as someone stepped out the door of a bedroom just up from hers.

A broad grin burst onto Vince McMahon’s face, “Kalleasto!” He hurried up the hallway, the girl hurrying toward him to meet him half way, the two meeting in a warm hug. “I wasn’t sure you were going to come.” He squeezed her tight against him, rubbing her back affectionately. “Damn, I wasn’t sure you were going to come back...”

He smiled, “I’m glad you still think of it as such.” His face settled seriously, “You didn’t see your mother did you?” Kalli shook her head and he sighed, relieved. “Thank God.”

Kalli nodded, “Uh huh. I dropped her off at the Guest Room, she’s just getting settled and then she’s going to head downstairs.” She asked suddenly, “Uh, I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course it is. She’s your kid sister. She can stay here as long as she likes.” He smiled, his eyes locking on hers. His smile dying away as he took in her pale features. “Are you okay, honey?” He ruffled her hair gently, “You’re so pale.”

“Good,” he hugged her again, turning and leading her back to her bedroom door, pleased when he saw the size of the bag she had with her. “Does this mean you’re staying with us a while?”

“I’ve been thinking...” Kalli told him softly, “Maybe its time Kalli McMahon stood on her own two feet.” She shrugged, “I think I’m kinda stealing a leaf from Krissy’s book, but... I want to move out. Get a place of my own.”

She cut him off, “Daddy, since I came to America, I’ve lived here and I’ve lived with Jeff. I’m 23 years old and I have the financial means to be completely independent. Isn’t it time I gave that a shot?”

She paused. To be honest she wasn’t sure. It was not the first time she had considered getting a place of her own in the past week, but it was the first time she had voiced the idea aloud. As for New York... Well, it had just come out. But it seemed as good a choice as any. Kalli had spent a lot of time in New York over the years and she honestly loved it there...

And though Connecticut or Cameron or even Florida, which would be far more convenient for Tiara seeing she was training with her, seemed like much more realistic options, the idea was taking hold. Why not New York City?

Baffled he asked, “And how do you plan on repairing your relationship with Jeff if he’s in Cameron and you’re in New York?” Her giggle disappeared instantly and her face fell. He sighed, “Are you going to try to repair your relationship with Jeff?” She looked away, her eyes settling on the carpeted floor of the hallway. “Kalli...” He whispered, stunned.

Though it had never really occurred to him before now, for some reason Vince had assumed that when Kalli returned to Australia, when she stepped away from both Jeff and Matt and truly thought about it, that it would be Jeff she returned to when she got home.

“I think,” the McMahon Heiress kept herself together surprisingly well considering the permanent ache that contaminated her heart these days, “I think the best thing I can do for Jeff, for Matt, for Krissy, for myself... It’s to get out there, Daddy. To get out there and be by myself.”

Concern filtered onto Vince’s face. Evidently, Kalli had not yet heard that Krissy and Matt had gone their separate ways and that his elder daughter was once again back in the arms of her beloved Adam. “Kalli,” he told her gently, “Some things have happened this last few days that you might want to take into consideration before you make a decision of this magnitude.”

Despite himself, Vince chuckled at this. “Come on, Kalli.” He picked her bag up, carrying it into her room and sitting it down on the bed, “Go grab yourself some Tylenol and we’ll go downstairs.” He chuckled again when, still grumbling, she moved into the en suite bathroom that she and Melly had shared for most of her years in America. When she returned, she tossed both tablets into her mouth, draining the glass of water she carried to swallow them. He smiled, “Better?”

“They say fast acting, not instantaneous.” She giggled softly, “Silly Daddy.” She stepped toward the door, her father following her out into the hall. She was about to keep moving when her father reached out a hand to take her arm. She turned to face him, still giggling... But the giggle died when she saw the look on his face. “Daddy?” She asked worriedly.

Considering that Jeff and Krissy were best friends, Kalli knew this shouldn’t surprise her, but for some reason she was all the same. “He is?” Her father nodded and she whispered, “Oh.”

She probably wouldn’t be, and she knew that. But she had managed to be near Jeff when they were not together in the past, countless times. She was sure she could manage again. “I’ll be okay, Daddy.” She took his hand, smoothing away the dubious look on his face with her warm smile, “Come on, let’s get down there. I don’t want to miss all the fun.” She was about to lead him down the hall when she paused, “Oh, shit. One second.” She ran back into the bedroom and then reappeared, a parcel in her hand. “Nearly forgot my present for the birthday girl.”

Kalli smiled to herself, “A friendly reminder.” Vince’s brow was evidence of her confusion and she giggled, “You’ll see.” She took his hand, leading him down the hallway, “Come on, Daddy.”

Walking down the stairs hand in hand, Kalli gave her father a nervous little smile. Once again, she wasn't sure what kind of reception she would get from her siblings. Because today it was not just Krissy she had to face, but Lindsey as well, and of late, she had not exactly been getting along splendidly with either of them.

"It'll be fine, Kalli." Her father kissed her cheek, giving her hand a little squeeze as they stepped into the near over-populated room. He paused, keeping his daughter by his side as he glanced about the room, "There's Krissy." He motioned to the opposite side of the room, "And Lindsey too." He grinned at her, "Choose your destiny."

"Damn, Daddy, does everything have to be so dramatic with you?" He chuckled and she shook her head playfully, "I might wish Kris a happy birthday first." She squeezed the neatly wrapped parcel in her hand gently, trying to keep her terror at bay.

She let go of her father’s hand and made her way through the crowded room, stepping over to stand before her sister who was chatting away to her mother cheerily. She moved the package to hold it behind her back, "Krissy?"

Kalli grinned, groaning playfully, "Yes, Mom." The two exchanged a smile before Linda moved off and she turned her attentions back to Krissy. "Uh..." She fought to keep her nerves at bay, "I just..." She tore the present out from behind her, holding the slim-esque square package out to her sister, "Happy Birthday, Kris."

Krissy took the package from her sister, her smile never leaving her face. She quickly glanced her eyes over at Anastasia, happily entertaining both her brother and Adam, then let her eyes drift back up to meet Kalli's. "Thank you. It's been a great birthday so far. I'd have to say my best ever."

A little confused, Kalli told her sincerely, "That's good. I'm glad." Still nervous, she instinctively fidgeted with her ring, motioning toward the present. "Open it..." She smiled.

Krissy began to slowly unwrap the present, a smile decorating her already happy face. "Kalli.." She whispered as she looked at the framed photo of them from Kalli's first visit to America. Linda had caught both girls in midair, their hair flying and smiles wide. She looked up at her younger sister. "I remember this day so clearly. I couldn't believe that you had finally come to America." She ran her finger over the beads of the frame. "We swore we'd wear these bracelets forever."

The girl shrugged, "Well, we tried at least. We wore them until they fell off." She smiled at the memory, "I always kept the beads... I don't know why." She touched her fingertips to the top of the frame, "I thought they might look nice on this..." She sighed, "I'm sorry its nothing special." She went on softly, "I just... I remember what it was like... When you were my best friend." She looked up at her sister, her eyes brimming with uncried tears, "I wanted you to remember that too."

Krissy nodded. "Kalli.." She started to go on when Anastasia ran over to her, gushing with something that Adam had told her. Adam had quickly followed suit, placing his arm around Krissy's waist.

Her mind whirling, trying to process Adam's arms around Krissy, and in public no less, as well as the appearance of the girl before her, Kalli stammered, "Uh..." She looked to Krissy desperately.

Her father had told her some things had happened over the past few days... That she and Krissy should sit down and have a talk... And though Kalli knew about Anastasia, actually seeing her was something else entirely. And Adam?

Krissy looked to Adam and he nodded, kissing her softly then whisking Anastasia away to give the two sisters privacy. "Yes, Kalleasto, Matt Hardy is a free man. Free to pursue the sister he truly loved. He no longer has to feel obligated to the other."

Krissy nodded again. "It's okay, Kalli. I'm not going to fight you. Not anymore. Adam loves me. Only me. And together, we're going to raise our family. It's the way it should be. Don't get me wrong, I love Matt. I do. But he isn't the man that he used to be. At least not to me. Adam is. Adam is my forever. And Matt wants to be yours. He's still realizing that, so give him time." She looked down, tears filling her eyes. "But Jeff.. he loves you, too. Just.. take some advice to me. Take the time to figure out where your heart truly belongs. It's hell loving two men."

Trying to gain some control over herself, all too aware that she was in a room full of people, Kalli wiped away her tears as discreetly as she could, taking long, deep breaths to try and calm herself, but it was becoming a losing battle and she longed for escape.

Kalli followed closely behind her sister as she lead her out to the front steps of the Mansion, Kalli sitting on the step when her sister did so first. The moment she was down she hugged her knees tightly to her chest, burying her face to cry into her lap silently.

Krissy rubbed her hand over her sister's back soothingly. "Kalli, I don't know what to say to you. I honestly don't. You hurt me. Regardless of whether Matt and I were meant to be, you had no right in what you did. And while part of me is grateful that you did, because God knows how long it would have taken me to get back with Adam, there is another part that still feels betrayed." Krissy sighed softly. "And then there is another part that just wants to push all that aside. I can't express to you how blissfully happy I am. Even though I've just barely gotten her, each day with Anastasia is better than the one before. And Adam? My God, he's everything. Absolutely everything."

She was silent for a moment. Then with a calming breath, she continued. "But where I'm really torn, is Matt and Jeff. I want them both to be happy. And they both love you. But maybe.. just maybe.. " She trailed off for a moment, then looked to Kalli, taking her sister's face in her hands and forcing her to look at her.

"There is one thing that I know, Kalli. You would have never slept with Matt if you weren't in love with him. Even if it was jut on a subconscious level, you had to have been in love with him."

"Don't you see, Krissy?" She whispered painfully, "That's the very thing that terrifies me." She lowered her eyes again, "I am so afraid of hurting Jeff that everything in me pulls me back to him, but I..." She shook her head shamefully, "When you told me then that you and Adam were back together, all I could think was... Matt would be hurting..." She pushed her face back into her lap, not wanting to face her sister, or the world for that matter, ever again.

"Don't you?" Krissy asked seriously. "Who is it that you've always run to, Kalli? Since the day you met Matt, he's been the one that you've run to time after time. Just like Matt was with me, I think you're in love with the idea of being in love with Jeff."

Kalli sighed into her lap, barely able to breathe. "However I feel for Jeff... I have to make it right with him Krissy... I can't.. I couldn't..." She struggled on, forcing the words out, "I could never be with Matt anyway."

"Not just because he's Jeff's brother..." Kalli looked up, her long fringe falling into her eyes, "He was with you too, Krissy. It's not right." She sobbed softly, "It's bad. It's all bad and wrong and..." Her sobs started to get the better of her and she had no choice but to let the words trail away.

"Kalli, honey," she began. She pulled her sister into her arms. "It's okay. Honest it is. I belong with Adam. I'm so in love with him, I think I never truly stopped loving him. I'll always treasure what I had with Matt, he helped me through a difficult time, but he's not Adam. There is no one else for me but my Beautiful Canadian. No one. And if you and Matt will make each other happy, then I'll be happy to see you together."

Melting into the warm embrace of her sister’s arms, Kalli continued to cry, trying to find the strength to say what she felt she needed to. Wanting one and for all to finally tell her sister the truth, but not even sure what good it would do.

It may hurt her sister more than all else, but she admitted brokenly, "I'm in love with him." She whispered, "I never wanted to be, but I am." Her shaking seemingly increased, "I know that you know that, I know that everyone seems to know that now, but..." She looked up, honesty in her eyes, "I didn't want to know. I want my life to be with Jeff. I want it to be like it was." She sobbed softly again, cursing herself, "But its not going to be is it? It's not going to ever be like it was before."

Krissy shook her head. "No, honey, it's not. Nothing will ever be the same. We all grow, we change. We fall in love, we fall out of love." She smiled softly lightly rubbing her belly. "We find our children, and have new ones. And we start new lives, Kalli. And I believe that what you had with Jeff was so comfortable that the uncertainty of what you may have with Mattie scares the hell out of you."

Krissy stared at her for a long moment before speaking slowly. "I told you, you hurt me. Plain and simple." She let a smile filter onto her face. "But I have Adam now. And I couldn't be happier. I honestly couldn't. I can't promise you that I will ever be able to look at you without a shadow of doubt about your intentions, but I can promise that I can try."

Kalli managed a soft, "But... If Matt and I... You would be mad at me and I... I couldn't bare it..." She looked desperately into her sister’s eyes, urgency in her voice, "I want us to be friends again, Krissy. I want us to be family." She whispered, reaching up a hand to touch her sister’s face, "I miss you."

Krissy leaned into her sister's touch. "We'll always be family, Kalli. Nothing can change that. And if you can make Matt happy, and he, you, then you should be together. I'll be fine with it." She smiled. "Kalli, you honestly don't understand, do you? Adam is my life. Adam is my everything. Matt is my past, and that is where he will always remain. Seeing you and Matt will not hurt me because I know that I am now where I belong. With Adam."

Kalli nodded softly, looking down the steps and out across the massive front yard of the Mansion, staring down at the gates for a long time before whispering, "What do I tell Jeff?"

Krissy laughed softly. "Are you just now figuring that out? Kalli, I want you to be as happy as I am. Even the first time around with Adam wasn't this good, it's deeper, there's more meaning. We're starting a family together, and it's more amazing than I could have ever imagined." She giggled softly. "He touches me, and I melt. I haven't felt that in so long, and to know that it will be like that for the rest of my life? I'm positively giddy. And I want that for you."

She looked back to her sister, their eyes meeting, "I know you're not the one I should ask, it isn't fair that I ask, but..." Her voice was so filled with quiet dread that Krissy could only barely make out her question, "Is there any hope for me with Matt? I'm not giving up Jeff, not giving up everything I have ever known, for something that could never be?"

Krissy reached out, touching her sister's face gently. "No, honey, you're not. Matt loves you. He loves you, Kalli. His greatest fear is that you don't love him. That you could never love him because he simply is not his brother."

Krissy nodded. "Really. And I happen to have it on good authority that once he knew that Jeff was coming here, he headed home. Granted, he'll be leaving for New York tomorrow morning, but there is that plane that sits at the airport just waiting for it's next destination."

"I'm telling you that you should follow your heart. I just happen to believe that it will lead you to Cameron." She said simply. And she meant it. She wanted Matt to be happy, and it would take Kalli to give him that.

Giving her sister a sad little smile, Kalli whispered, "Thankyou." She started climbing to her feet, holding out a hand to her sister, "Come on. I should get the birthday girl back in there, huh?"

Krissy beamed. "She's so perfect, and she's quite in awe of Adam. And of course he is wrapped around her little finger." She smiled. "She was quite taken with Jeff as well. I think there might be a little crush there."

The girl hugged her sister again, saying nothing more, just giving her a soft smile, and then she looked back to Jeff. He had spotted her and his gaze was now locked on her. "Here goes nothing," she whispered, making her way across the room.

The outcome of that though remained as big a mystery to Kalli as the origin of the Universe to the majority of the world, and she dread it as much as she longed for some semblance of order in her life again.

Moving to step around someone, not even sure who it was, Kalli inadvertently stepped into someone, her eyes snapping up as she mumbled, "I'm sorry..." Surprised she exclaimed, "Lindsey!"

Lindsey's eyes widened in shock as she heard Kalli's voice. She swallowed hard, suddenly wishing Paul was there with her instead of off talking to her father. "Kalli...How was Australia?" Lindsey asked, trying her best to mask the hurt she was feeling at having had her sister leave the country without so much as a good-bye. She didn't want to have to admit the fear she had felt when she'd learned of Kalli's quick departure. With the things the way in the world right now, Lindsey had worried about her sister being away. "It must be nice compared to the rainy mess we've had here in Connecticut lately," she tried to make conversation.

Kalli smiled softly, "Actually, it was kinda yukki in Australia. It's the coldest summer they've had in the state of Victoria for like 103 years or something." She shrugged, "I got rained on a lot."

Lindsey sighed. Even as mad as she'd been with Kalli about leaving the country, Lindsey couldn't stand to see her sister so upset. "I'm sorry, Kalli... About everything." She bit her lip nervously. "I didn't mean it when I told you to go to hell."

"I know, Linds..." She sighed softly, "And I... I didn't mean to be as hard on you as I was, I just..." She looked into her sisters eyes, her belief in her next words evident, "I've worked so hard to get into this business, to be more than just a McMahon in those storylines, to really be a wrestler, and..." She whispered, "It's hard when you have that ruined by your own stupidity, and I vented, a little too much, and I placed blame that wasn't yours on you." She added gently, "But I want you to understand what this business is all about, Linds."

"You were right," Lindsey frowned. "I'm nothing more than a spoiled brat who runs to Daddy or Paul for help any time I'm the slightest bit upset, but I'm trying to do something about it." She pulled up for arm sleeve slightly to reveal a series of very dark bruises. "I'm learning to wrestle," Lindsey informed her sister, embarrassment filling her eyes and turning her cheeks a dark red.

Lindsey tilted her head. "You know you two never have told me anything about when Paul used to train you, and knowing the two of you, there have to be some interesting tales. We'll have to swap stories sometime."

"Yeah," Kalli whispered, looking away slightly. "We will." She shrugged, "Of course though, most of my training was with The Hardy Boys when they came to the WWF though, so there's not a whole lot to tell about Paul." She smirked, "Except that he was a hard task master." The McMahon Heiress giggled softly.

"He's really been wonderful," Lindsey smiled, "but since he is my husband, sometimes I think maybe he's a little too easy on me." She shrugged. "But what do I know?" Lindsey leaned closer to her sister. "Was he terribly hard on you?"

"Maybe he was a little rough from time to time..." She fought to keep her face completely neutral at this, deciding a change of subject may be in order, "So... You're coming along okay with it, huh?" She told her sister playfully, "You should be able to convince Dad and Krissy to let you come back sometime in the foreseeable future then."

"Daddy's already agreed to it. It's Krissy that's going to take some work," Lindsey replied. "Paul keeps telling me to be patient. I guess for now I'm just content with getting him back in the ring where he belongs." She smiled. "But January 7th isn't too far away, and he's keeping busy training me. I can almost go through a whole match. Daddy came down and watched us the other day. He said I was as good as Trish, but I don't know if that really says much," she laughed.

She shook her head, but something gnawed at Kalli that made her hands shake in the makings of anger. "Just... Daddy has never... He never told me that I was as good as anyone... Or that... Anything." She looked away, trying to fight the feelings rising in her, "And Daddy approved you coming back? Its just Krissy now? Daddy... Daddy said it was okay?"

Lindsey frowned, knowing she'd made a mistake by telling Kalli what their father had said. "He's the one that suggested it." Lindsey shifted nervously. "Krissy just has to approve it. Daddy's been really supportive of me. He and Paul are as close as can be now, and Daddy can't wait to have us both back." She pushed her hair back behind her ears. "Um.. And.. He's even offered to throw us a wedding so we can renew our vows in front of the family and our friends." She looked down. "Kalli... I..."

Tears of hut filled Kalli's eyes, "Don't..." She gazed over Lindsey's shoulder, looking for Jeff again, wanting an out to the conversation, but he was gone. She sighed, looking around.

Her eyes fell on her father where he stood talking to Paul. Overcome by the temper she had fought so hard to keep at bay so determinedly of late, she marched over to him, taking his arm, "Daddy..." Her voice was cracking, "Daddy, I need to talk to you."

Paul frowned as he took in Kalli's tear filled eyes. He glanced over and noticed that his wife was watching Kalli, a worried look on her face. "Kalli, what's wrong? What happened?" he turned to her, his own eyes full of concern for his sister-in-law.

Kalli looked to Paul, her teary eyes filled with fire, she shook her head at him, "You're just as bad," she snapped, before turning to her father, "But you!" The words came out much louder than she intended, drawing the gazes of others in the room.

Vince sighed softly. He had hoped to not have this conversation with Kalli until the timing was right. With everything else she had going on lately, she didn't need this on top of it all because he knew, he knew that she would be hurt. "Kalli..."

Paul looked over to see what Lindsey was doing, but the only image he caught of his wife was one of her fleeing the room. He turned back to Kalli. "Kalli, just relax." He shook his head. "Your father knows what he's doing. Lindsey has real talent, and she's been working hard to get a shot to go back out there."

"And I haven't?" Kalli snapped at Paul. "You should know better than most what this means to me, Paul! You of all people should understand!" She whirled to her father, "I train every day, Daddy! Every damn day, and I'm training Tiara too! But you won't even look at considering reinstating me in the WWF. You never come near me when I work out in the ring. You never say a word about it, not even a word of encouragement..."

Paul watched in shock as his father-in-law and sister-in-law went at it. Not knowing where his wife was now and wanting to save his sister-in-law from further embarrassment, Paul reached out and gently took Kalli's arm. "Come on, Kalli. Let's go out side and get some fresh air. I think we need to talk." He gave her a serious look, letting her know he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Reluctantly, pulling back from all every step of the way, Kalli followed Paul out into the foyer before tearing her arm away from him. When he turned to face her, her eyes locked on his furiously. "I know I did the wrong thing, I know I did! But I've been out for months and Daddy won't even consider letting me go back to work! Tell me how that's fair, Paul.”

"It's not," Paul sighed and shook his head. "You and I both know it's not fair, but you and I also know that's not fair to attack your sister for what your father is doing." He sighed. "I know that you love this company. You know I LOVE this company, but I also know Lindsey loves it." He sighed. "Kalli, despite what you think, everything is NOT easy for Lindsey. You two should be supporting each other right now not ripping each other apart."

"Not easy for her?" She shook her head, "Daddy makes it easy, Paul." She sighed, resting her face in her hands, trying to calm herself down. "Dammit, I just..." She looked up at him, her hurt apparent, "I just want Daddy to recognize what I do, Paul. He's never said anything about my wrestling. Never. Not 'Oh Kalli, I think you're as good as Trish...' Damn, not even a 'You're as good as fucking Stacy!'" She rubbed her aching forehead again, nausea rising in her.

Paul reached out and cupped Kalli's chin with his hand. "You made a mistake," Paul acknowledged, "but we all do. Your father WILL get over it just like he has when I've made some of the mistakes I have." He gave her a gentle smile. "You know your father loves you. We all do, Kalli, and no mistake you make backstage or with this company is going to change that." He sighed. "And as far as complimenting you on your wrestling, everyone knows you're a natural athlete. Learning to wrestle has been harder for Lindsey, and your father has just gone out of his way to make her feel better about it." Paul shook his head. "Vince and Lindsey have a special bond. She's the baby, and there's no other way to explain it, but you know you're talented, Kalli. God knows I've told you that enough over the years." He winked at her, trying to draw a smile from her. "You did learn from the best, you know?"

A blush painted Kalli's cheeks, "Just a few." She smiled the most lopsided, adorable little smile at the memories filling her mind before shaking her head, forcing them away. "Damn... I'm meant to be finding Jeff to go talk to him and here I am going all reminiscent with you." She sighed, "Tell Linds... Tell her I'm sorry, okay?"

Paul nodded. "I will." He gave her a concerned look. "Just do me one favour. Don't be such a stranger, and talk to your sister. She misses you, and I know for a fact she wants you in the wedding. She even wanted to postpone it if you weren't back from Australia." He squeezed her hand and gave her a small peck on the cheek. "We're both here for you, Kalli. You just remember that."

The twosome stepped back slightly from each other. Kalli had been about to walk into the room, Jeff had been about to walk out of it, and instead the two had run smack, bang into each other.

Despite herself, Kalli smiled slightly at the way he touched her, comfortable with the feel of his fingers running softly through her hair. “No harm done.” She looked up at him, “I was looking for you, actually.”

“Yeah.” Though she thought she was doing a wonderful job at keeping composed, the fingers of her right hand crept up to play with the ring on her left index finger without her realizing it. “I think that we need to talk... If you want to...”

And they did. Jeff knew it as well as she did. And though he dreaded it, he knew that this moment had needed to come eventually. He nodded slowly, “Is there somewhere we can go?”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Yeah, that’ll do.” He motioned for her to go first and she did before he fell into step as they climbed the staircase. The two walked in silence until they had nearly reached the top...

The Hardy Boy threw a little sideways glance at Kalli, surprised to see she had paled and was puffing slightly, “Hey.” He paused at the top of the stairs, taking her arm to pull her to a halt. “You okay?”

“Uh huh.” Kalli nodded, her voice a little breathless, “I just...” She shook her head, unable to even explain it, “I’ve just been a little sick this past few days, I think. Too much time spent plane hopping. I probably just have a killer dose of jet lag.” She started walking again.

He followed along behind her, his eyes locked on her back. “I’ve just been a little sick this past few days, I think...” For some reason, something told Jeff it was a little more than that. He had seen her just a little sick a few times in the years they had known each other, but he had never seen her struggling to climb a single flight of stairs.

The McMahon Heiress came to a halt before him, opening her bedroom door and stepping inside. He followed her in, closing the door behind him as she moved across the room to sit on her window seat. He pondered going to sit by her but instead chose to sit opposite her on the end of her bed. Silence filled the room for what had to be minutes before Jeff eventually asked a little pointedly, “So how was Australia?”

“Florida.” She told him softly, “I went to see Adam, I needed to apologize for some of the things I’ve done over the years and...” She broke off, telling him awkwardly, “I don’t really know how to explain it all to you really.”

“Try, Kalli,” his voice was a gentle please, “Please.” He ran a hand through his hair, “I just...” He locked his eyes on hers, “I’ve been thinking about everything. Dayum, I haven’t stopped. I just think about it and think about it...” He whispered, “I want to understand.”

Kalli shook her head, “Jeffy...” More tears threatened to fill her eyes and she sighed, “I’m not sure that I even understand.” She fell silent, gazing down at her hands. It was only now that she noticed she was fidgeting with the ring on her left hand and she sighed, clenching her eyes shut.

When a still sleeping Kalleasto McMahon felt gentle fingertips stroke lazily down her cheek bone, across her jaw and then creep ever so softly over her lips, a sweet, sleepy sigh announced that she was drawing from sleep. Eyes still closed, a dreamy smile touching her face, she whispered, “Jeffy...”

In fits of laughter now where he half knelt by, half lay upon the bed, Matt Hardy gave her the kind of grin that could melt women the world over. “You know, Kalli, you really need to start locking your door of a night.” His laugh trailed away when she leant forward and slapped him, “Hey! Ooowww!!!” He grasped his injured cheek, “What did you do that for?”

After a moment of sitting, arms folded and glaring, she sighed, leaning over to stroke his cheek. He flinched melodramatically before he let her touch him though. “My poor, poor Matty.”

“Ssshhh,” Matt’s fingers crept gently over her lips. “Ssshhh, please. Please don’t say that. Kalli...” His fingers outlined her cheek, “Without Jeff... Without him you have fought for him, you’ve been strong, you’ve proven how amazing you are. He can’t take that away from you. He just compliments it... Together, the two of you are perfect. I know you are.” The look that passed between them seemingly deepened, “Don’t ever doubt yourself... I can’t think of anyone more incredible than you.”

Almost simultaneously, the two leant forward, and before either could draw breath to clear the haze in their heads, their lips pressed together in a tender kiss that lasted minutes.

"I can't stay out of your life because I can't live my life without you in it!!!" She screamed into his face, this time, the truth in her words, the undeniable emotion, plainly spelt out for Matt to see. Lost to it, she went on, planting her hands in his chest and shoving him, "I can't breathe when I think for one second that you're not going to be there!" She sobbed again, her hands surging into his chest again, "I can't sleep without knowing that all I need to do is call and you'll be there!" Breaking totally she cried out, "I need you, Matt! God dammit! I fucking need you! Don‘t you see that? And I hate it! I fucking hate it!" Her sobs racked her body and she nearly collapsed where she stood, murmuring softly over and over, "But I do. I do..."

“Kalli?” Jeff’s eyes were locked on her face, still downcast, hidden by the hair that fell into her face. As she had sat there silently, her shoulders had started to shake and he knew... He knew she was crying.

“Talk to me, baby,” he whispered, moving across the room to kneel before her, taking her hands gently in his own. She raised her head slightly but she did not open her eyes. They remained held tightly closed, her expression so pained, so terrifyingly pained...

Shocked to her very core, Kalli froze beneath him, her arms hanging by her sides, her eyes wide, her lips still trembling from her tears. When he pulled away from her, she looked up at him, her eyes meeting his, "Matty?"

Loosening one hand from her hair, he pressed his palm against her cheek, his thumb stroking lazily back and forth, "Kalli," he whispered, her name falling from his lips so perfectly, so naturally that when he looked at her now, he wondered why he had never truly seen her before. He leant down, kissing her forehead, then placing a light kiss on the tip of her nose before nuzzling it softly with his own. Her warm breath swept across his face and he breathed in deeply, not sure what else he could say.

Taken by the sheer tenderness with which he touched her, one hand crept shakily to his waist, resting there softly as the other took a gentle hold of the hand he pressed against her cheek. She closed her eyes, tears still softly running down her face, and then she opened them, looking into his eyes. As if building courage she wasn't even sure she had, she leant forward, balancing on her tip toes, and this time, she pressed her lips to his.

“There’s something I think you need to read,” Kalli whispered, gently squeezing Jeff’s hands where she held them softly in her own in her lap. “I didn’t realize what was happening to me until I wrote it, and I think... I think in some way it might explain things to you that way it did to me...” She shook her head, “Damn, I don’t even know if this is coming out right, but...”

She nodded, getting up and moving over to her bag. She pulled the black notebook from it that she had been writing in since she had flown out of America just under two weeks before, opening it to the last entry. “Here,” she cooed softly, handing it to him.

And it had been months since she had fallen head over heels in love with his younger brother, Jeff. She looked at him with total adoration in her eyes, yearning for him wholeheartedly, and in response he would ruffle her hair or play fight with her while he brought home date after date after date.

He had known for a long time now that Kalli had loved him before they even got together on that promotional trip to New York for Wrestlemania back in March. But had he realized how far back those emotions ran?

She blushed, moved by the fact that unlike Jeff and Shannon and Shane... Matt Hardy didn't see her as one of the boys. "Well," she spoke softly, her voice wavering slightly in her embarrassment, "Why didn't I fall in love with one of the other Hardy Boys?"

“I...” He looked over to where Kalli now sat on the end of her bed, still fidgeting with the ring on her left index finger, still in tears, lost to her pain. “I didn’t realize that you loved me... Not then...” He shook his head, “I’m so sorry.”

She spoke over him, silencing him, “It was no-ones fault, Jeff. It was just how it was...” She broke off, pondering her words carefully, her very heart and soul aching. “For so long now, all I’ve seen, all I’ve loved has been you.” She reached out, touching a hand to his cheek softly, “I’ve loved you with so much of my heart that I wonder how much of it could possibly be left over.”

“And now?” He asked softly. She looked away again, taking a deep breath. He could see how hard she was fighting to keep it together now and it broke his heart. If he could spare them both this moment, he would...

“Matt was always there for you. Always.” He went on gently, “Just like you always were for him.” He shook his head, “When he loved Krissy with all his heart and she didn’t know he was alive, you comforted him. You comforted him every day that he lived with that broken heart. And for you,” he took hold of the hand that caressed his cheek still, bringing it to his lips to kiss it gently, “He was there for you when you needed someone to tell you it was all going to be all right. When you needed someone to love you, he was there. He was there when I wasn’t.”

More words from the book, these ones he had flicked back through quickly before settling back on the last entry Kalli had made in what had very much become a chronicle of her love for him, filling his mind.

His arms rest lovingly around the girl’s waist, his forehead pressed softly against hers, he stared deeply into her eyes. She melted under his very touch and he savoured the way she smiled when she was in his arms, “I want this with you forever, you know?”

He had yearned for her, longed for her, adored her and loved her and wanted her and needed her. In the years they were together, he had felt certain in his heart that she was the one. That they would have forever.

But Beth had tired of his life on the road, his life that she, realistically, could not truly ever be a part of. And she had left. He had believed they were meant to be together, that they were soul mates, and she had left...

Her heart shattering inside her, Kalli let go of Jeff's hand, backing away from the table a little, shaking her head, "Jeff... If this hurts me, then the decision to stay or go should be *MINE* to make..." She threw her hands up, "I don't expect you to change. I don't. And if I worry, then, that's my problem, and I'll... I'll deal with that... I will... Please... Please... Please don't do this..."

The younger Hardy shook his head, "No, Kalli. I'm sorry." A few more tears escaped him, trickling mournfully down his face as he told her softly, sad certainty in his voice, "It's over."

Matt Hardy had never left her. No matter what passed between them, no matter his own hurt, he stayed by her side as loyally as Kalli stayed by his. Their commitment to each other had not wavered. Not once in all these years.

Jeff had loved Beth, certain above all else that they would spend their lives together. It was when he had fallen in love with Kalli that he had come to understand he had been wrong.

“Kalli,” he whispered softly, “All I need to know is this.” He reached out, tilting her face up so she faced him, their eyes locked together again, “Are you in love with Matt?”

“Yes,” she near-sobbed the word. “I’m in love with him, Jeffy...” She whimpered, falling apart. “I’m so sorry... I didn’t want to... I... I love you so much, I was so sure... But...” She was unable to go on, sobbing softly, resting her head in her hands as if trying to contain the tears.

When he looked over at Kalli, seeing her broken before him, he could not stop the tears in his eyes from creeping slowly, mournfully down his face. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, gently, his fingers stroking through her hair, his eyes clenched closed in pain as he cried, his cheek resting against the top of her head as together they cried...

He returned her grin, a devilish one of his own painting his handsome face, “I love you.” And then he pulled her forward again, kissing her adoringly, his tongue sweeping gently past her slightly part lips...

He cut her off, kissing her hair, “I’m not asking you too, Kalli.” He tilted her face up to look at him, “I’m telling you too.” He whispered softly, “Don’t ignore the love that’s right there in front of you, because one day...” He clenched his eyes shut as he whispered knowingly, “One day that love will leave you.”

And with that he opened his eyes, staring into hers a moment before kissing her gently, pulling her tighter into his embrace than he ever had before pushing her away from him and climbing shakily from the window seat, stepping away from it.

Kalli couldn’t bare to look after him. She threw herself down onto the window seat, burying her face in her arms to cry in the desperate hope that she had just made the right decision...