The ringing of the phone roused Jeff from his sleep. He and Matt had gotten in at four that morning and, glancing at his bedside table and the alarm clock there, someone was calling him after he had only gotten three hours of sleep.
Reaching out he snagged the phone he knew he should have turned off before going to bed. "ello?"
"Thank God, Jeff. I need a huge favor." the female voice was familiar, but it took a moment for Jeff to recognize it.
"Sidney?" Jeff questioned as he tried to wake up enough to tell his old school friend to kiss off.
"Yeah, buddy. I need a huge favor... I've tried everyone else, but no one can help me... I know you're busy traveling and stuff, but I can't find anyone else." Sidney told her friend and bit her lip hoping.
"What'cha need?" Jeff asked knowing he had to help her. He was, after all, a fine southern gentleman.
"I just need you to watch over something for me while I go on an expedition with one of my professors. It's only for five months... I swear!" Sidney let out a hopeful sigh.
"Watch something? Sure. Just tell me when and where." Jeff had thought it was going to be something a little more complicated than that.
"I'll bring everything to you and I've already got a list of instructions and schedules. Thank you, Jeff. I'm going to owe you big time for this. I should be there in about an hour. Thank you so much! Bye." with that and a relieved sigh Sidney hung up, leaving Jeff to hang up the phone and fall back asleep.
******
Sidney knocked a couple of times then opened the door to Jeff's home. "Jeff?" she called as she walked in carrying everything. She sat the bag down on the table and lift the sling to walk farther into the house. In the master bedroom she found Jeff sleeping soundly, sucking innocently on his thumb.
"Okay, I'll let you sleep. I'll just leave you a note." Sidney said softly to the sleeping man as she carried the sling back into the kitchen. It took her a moment to find something to write on and when she had her note done she set it so that it was the first thing he saw when he walked into the kitchen.
"Okay, precious. Be good for Uncle Jeff. Don't give him any more trouble than you give me." Sidney kissed her son on the head and after securing him in his car seat in the middle of the kitchen table she hurriedly left knowing she'd never go if she didn't force herself.
******
Jeff was awakened a second time, but this time it wasn't the phone. It sounded like Liger had gotten his nose stuck in a tin can. Grumbling he got up and went to help his poor dog.
He walked into the kitchen where it sounded like it was coming from. But as hard as he looked through the kitchen and dining room he could find the dog.
"Damn it, Liger. Where are you?" He muttered as he followed the sound to the kitchen and to the table where he stopped and stared. In a tiny car seat lay a tiny baby with large wet eyes.
"What the hell!" Jeff cursed as he seen the note with his name wrote on it. Grabbing it he opened it and tried not to listen to the baby crying.
Dear Jeff,
I'm so grateful for agreeing to watch over Alex while I'm in South America on the expedition. I should be back by fall. If not by Christmas. Thank you for helping me, no one else could take him. I've also left instructions with the University that's sponsoring the expedition to send my pay to you to fund Alex. Thank you again and see you in a few months. Give Alex a kiss for me and if you need anything else of his I still live in the same house and the key is in his diaper bag. Thanks, Sidney.
"Oh shit." was the only thing Jeff could think to say as he look from the note to the baby.
Part 2
"Please be home... please be home... please be home..." Jeff murmured as he paced in front of the crying baby. He had no clue what to do, but he was hoping Matt would.
"'ello?" Matt grumbled as he pulled the phone into bed with him.
"Matty! I you right now!" Jeff said as he reached out and jiggled the car seat hoping it would quiet the baby a little.
"Sorry, Jeffy... Too tired for you games right now... Sleepy." Matt had gotten in when Jeff had, but he hadn't gone to sleep because he had to do some house work before he could get to bed.
"Not that way Matt... Matt, I need your help."
"What's that in the background? Has Liger hurt himself." There was a silent again tacked on.
"No... do you remember my friend Sidney?" Jeff shook the car seat a little harder and the baby quieted a little.
“Yeah... what's that got to do with that sound?" Matt slowly rolled and rubbed his eyes.
"She asked me to take care of something for her while she was on an expedition to South America... I thought it was going to be a plant or a puppy or something like that... Matty, she left her baby here..." Jeff smiled when the baby dropped off. But when he quit jiggling the car seat he started crying again.
"Wha- A baby? As in a small human?" Matt really woke up at that news.
"Yeah... he's here in the kitchen in his car seat, crying... What do I do?" Jeff stared at the baby's wide brown eyes.
“Umm... call Daddy. I'll come over and we'll see if we can catch Sidney before she gets gone." Matt said and as soon as Jeff agreed, they both hung up.
***
Matt got there twenty minutes later to find their father sitting holding the baby and cooing at the little blond.
"Hey, sweety... You've got a mess in your britches don'tcha?" Gil said as he opened that soiled diaper.
"So this is your little house guest." Matt said as he looked at Jeff who was staring at the baby as if it were a ticking time bomb.
"Yeah... I called the University at the number she left for me... They flew out forty minutes ago." Jeff said tiredly wondering what in the hell he was going to do with a baby. He and Matt had to be on the road the next morning. "What am I going to do?"
"Well, first; you're going to come over here and learn to change this little boy's diaper. Then you're going to learn to make him a bottle. After that, we'll see." Gil said as he held out the fresh diaper to his son. His youngest always seemed to get into the oddest situations.
"I meant about taking Alex with me on the road... I mean how can I do that?" Jeff looked at the little boy and tried not to cry. He promised himself the next time someone asked him to watch something he was going to say no unless he knew exactly what it was.
"You'll do it just like any parent does. Now get over here." Gil ordered and then turned to Matt. "You too. You're going to be helping your brother."
Matt gulped as he and his brother eased closer just as Gil slipped the dirty diaper from the baby's bottom. Both of the younger Hardys gagged and started to back away. Gil laughed and shook his head. "I remember you two doing worse. Now come here."
******
"Mrs. McMahon... Would it be okay for me to bring my friend's baby on the road with me?" Jeff asked as he held Alex while the baby ate his bottle.
Linda, trying not to sound to weird, "It would be no trouble so long as you have someone to watch after him or her when ever you're on camera... But may I ask why you have your friend's baby.
"She had to go out of the country for an expedition and she couldn't take Alex with her... I was the last person on her list and no one else could take him... Thank you for allowing me to bring him with me, ma'am." Jeff was relieved. He didn't know what he would have done if Linda hadn't approved him bringing Alex with him.
"It's no trouble, Jeff. You're one of our more responsible youngsters. If you need someone to watch him and I have the time I'd be more than happy to take him. I'll see you both tomorrow in Richmond." Linda hung up after Jeff's goodbye and smiled at the thought of a baby being in with a bunch of big tough wrestlers. What most people didn't know and Linda herself had only been privy to a small number of times, is that most wrestlers have a weakness for all things cute and small. Especially babies.
"Well... let's see how the guys like you." Jeff muttered as he carried Alex and their bags into the arena in Richmond the next day. Alex, simply slept through the four hour trip.
Matt walked a little ways away marveling at the fact that Jeff was already learning to care for his charge. He too could change the baby's diaper and make a bottle for the little guy, but Jeff was quickly picking up the little things. Like the soft sound all parents have to calm a cranky baby. What Matt didn't understand was that he was even more attracted to his baby brother watching him care for the tiny baby. He knew what he felt was wrong, but watching his brother care for Alex made him long for children... But strangely enough, he wanted them with the one person he had shared everything else in his life with. He wanted a baby with Jeff. Matt knew it was impossible, but he could pretend for a little while that Alex was their's and they were a normal happy couple.
In any case, this was going to be fun; Matt thought to himself as he followed his brother and the baby.
Part 3
Every guy in the back took to little Alex. Most of the men had children of their own, so it wasn't strange for them to be around kids. It also helped when they were missing their kids.
Jeff was trying to get ready when Alex decided it was time to cry. It was obvious to all of the guys in the back that Jeff wasn't running on both barrels and didn't have any idea of what to do for the baby.
It was Mark who stepped in and took the cranky child from a panicked Jeff. "You get ready for your match and I will watch him for you."
"Thanks, Mark. I owe you." Jeff ran to get ready and made it to the gorilla pit with a minute to spare.
***
When Matt and Jeff finally got to the back they found Alex with all the divas in catering. He was happily eating a bottle and staring at Trish, who was making funny faces at him.
"Trish, stop before you scare the boy." Terri told her with a glare then turned and cooed at him. "Are you a sweet little one! I bet you daddy loves you to pieces! And it strange... You look more like Matt with blond hair."
Jeff's eyes went wide. "He's not mine! I haven't even seen his mother in two years."
Terri turned and shook her head. "It's okay, Jeff. We all understand. It happens to the best of guys. But it's good that you've taken him now."
Jeff spent an hour trying to tell them that Alex wasn't his, but they wouldn't listen and all Matt could do was sit there laughing.
******
Matt was awakened in the middle of the night by a soft voice singing to a whimpering baby. He sat up and seen Jeff rocking the baby in his arms singing a lullaby under his breath.
Just as Matt was going to ask what was wrong Jeff glanced up and frowned. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."
"’Sokay. What's wrong?" Matt asked as he stood and moved to sit beside Jeff.
"Someone doesn't know night from day." Jeff said with a smile as he leaned into Matt's shoulder.
Reaching out Matt took Alex and started rocking him giving Jeff's arms a break. He turned to say something to his brother but found Jeff sound asleep.
"Looks like you wore your Uncle Jeff out." Matt commented as he set the baby down beside him carefully and moved Jeff to lay flat on the bed. Then Matt took Alex back into his arms and started talking to him softly.
******
Jeff woke up and wondered what seemed off. Then he realized it was the body next to him. Instead of a small baby it was an adult. He opened his eyes to find Matt laying next to him and Alex sound asleep on top of Matt's chest contentedly sucking his fingers.
Matt stretched a little and Jeff was ready to dive for the save only to see his brother, still sound asleep, tuck his arms around the baby and roll onto this side with the baby laying on the mattress between them.
Sighing Jeff reached out to take the baby, but then decided that Matt had slept the night through with the baby like that, he could do it for a few more minutes.
Jeff hurriedly showered and came back out just as Alex woke for his seven am feeding. The younger Hardy lifted Alex and cuddled him to his chest while he mixed the bottle and put it into the bottle warmer.
Matt was just stirring as the bottle was finished warming. The dark haired Hardy still half asleep felt for the baby, but when he didn't find the tiny form he sat up his eyes wide with fright.
"It's okay, Matty. I have Alex." Jeff told him as he lifted the bottle to Alex's mouth and the little boy started sucking hungrily.
Matt breathed a sigh of relief as Jeff sat back beside him and he moved closer to watched the baby eat.
"I guess he was really hungry this morning." Jeff commented after the baby had finished the entire bottle.
Reaching out Matt took him. "You've already had your shower. No need in you maybe getting covered in spit up."
Jeff smiled and pulled on his pants as Matt burped Alex. Just as he was about to take him back so that Matt could shower Alex giggled a little and belched, covering Matt's back and hair with a thick layer of spit up.
"Take him, as soon as I've gotten stripped and my hair washed I'll take him into the bath tub with me." Matt handed him to Jeff who was still chuckling.
A few minutes later Jeff walked into bathroom to find Matt just wrapping his hair out of his way. For a moment Jeff could only stare at his beautiful brother. His long dark hair was pulled into a loose bun at the back of his head as he sat in waist deep water.
"Did you run it too hot for him?" Jeff managed to ask when Matt looked up at him.
"No... I made sure it wasn't very hot." Matt held out his hands and took Alex, while Jeff knelt beside the tub with the baby's bath stuff. Alex's eyes were wide as he splashed a little in the water.
Jeff helped Matt as they washed the laughing baby. "When you were little you hated baths." Matt commented as he gently started rinsing Alex.
Jeff nodded as he grabbed a towel to get Alex so Matt could finish his bath.
Once he and Alex were in the outer room Jeff shook his head as he laid the baby on the bed to dry him off. "Alex, I don't know what's going on. I think I might be lusting after my own brother."
Alex was looking up at him solemnly while kicking his little legs."But that's just silly isn't it?" Jeff leaned down and nuzzled the boy neck making him giggle and grab a few strands of hair.
"I love him. That's it." Jeff said as he smiled into Alex's little face. To this statement Alex blew a spit bubble as if to say 'Yeah right'.
Part 4
Jeff sighed happily as he and Matt walked Alex in his stroller. They were in Central Park just getting some air before they needed to be at Madison Square Garden.
"Hey, Jeffy. Look." Matt pointed out the large carousel they rode every time they were in New York City. "Don't you think he's too small?" Jeff looked doubtfully from Alex to one of his favorite rides.
"Naw. I remember Mom and Dad taking you on one when you were this little." Matt laughed as he pulled Jeff and pushed Alex's stroller over to the line for the ride.
Jeff was laughing as he leaned down and started to unstrap Alex from his stroller. But one look at Alex's little face had his laughter stopped. The baby boy's bright eyes were cloudy and his lips were parted in short shallow breaths.
"Alex?" Jeff said as his heart started pounding and he started trying to pull the baby from the seat.
When he got Alex out of his seat he seen there was a faint blueish tinge to the baby's skin. "Matt!" Jeff yelled as he felt the lightness of Alex's breathing.
Matt turned at his brother's yell and seen Jeff's panicked look. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know... He's breathing funny... Matt we've got to get him to a hospital now." Jeff told Matt then looked around and spotted the ever present police officer. "Sir!" Jeff, with Alex in his arms, took off running with Matt and the stroller following.
The cop turned and seen the young man's panicked look. "Is there something wrong?"
"My baby... Something's wrong with him." Jeff said as he allowed the cop to see the baby's lack of coloring and shallow breathing.
"Shit." the cop muttered as he lifted the radio on his shoulder. "Dispatch, I need an ambulance..." Jeff wasn't listening as he held Alex and Matt held him.
2 Hours Later
Jeff paced the waiting room. They had taken Alex from him as soon as they had arrived at the hospital. He had never been this scared, except maybe when his momma had been sick.
"Jeffy, please sit down." Matt said softly holding out his arms from the waiting room couch.
The younger finally fell into his brother's arms and sobbed into his shoulder. "I... don't... want to... lose him!"
"Neither do I... But sometimes we can't have what we want." Matt whispered as he felt his heart breaking. He loved Alex as much as his brother did. Sure they had only been taking care of him for two months, but in that time he and Jeff had grown closer to each other while learning to care for Alex.
Before either could say anything a kind looking nurse came out. "Mr. Hardy?"
"Yes?" Jeff jumped up and started at her waiting.
"You can see your son. He's going to be just fine."
Jeff and Matt wrapped around one another again as they followed her back to where a doctor was Leaning over Alex, who was looking much better.
"How is he?" Jeff asked when the doctor acknowledged them.
"He's fine. Just an allergic reaction. Have you put him on a new formula in the last day or so?" the doctor asked as he finished examining Alex and gave him a little tickle before he looked up to the boy's parents.
"No... Oh, wait... Matt, didn't we give him some of that soy stuff this morning? To see if he liked it?" Jeff asked as his mind raced to see what Alex could have been allergic to.
"That's probably it. This little guy is bouncing back pretty quick so I'm going to release him tonight." the doctor walked out as Matt and Jeff went to Alex and picked him up.
"Oh, baby boy, you scared me to death." Jeff murmured as he held Alex close and nuzzled his neck.
Matt stood beside them with his hand on the back of Alex's head just studying his bright eyes which were smiling up at them happily.
"I guess no more soy for you little man." Jeff commented and then his eyes strayed to the clock and gasped.
The dark Hardy looked at Jeff with worry. "What is it?"
"We've got to be at MSG in two hours." Jeff moved Alex up to lay on his shoulder and nibbled his bottom lip.
"We'll make it." Matt reassured him then turned his attention back to the baby in his brother's arms.
******
"Where have you guys been?" Shannon asked as Matt and Jeff walked into the locker room with twenty minutes till they were set to go out.
"Alex had an allergic reaction to a new formula. We had to take him to the hospital." Jeff told him with his emotional tiredness showing in his eyes.
"Oh god. Is he okay?" Shannon asked as he lifted Alex from the carrier they had him in.
"He's fine. It was a little scary, but he came through it like a trooper." Matt answered his pride showing. Anyone who heard him would think Matt was his real father, but then the pride in Jeff's eyes wasn't far behind.
"That's good. You two get ready. Kev and Scott are waiting on this guy... Someone special wants to meet him." Shannon grinned then noticed the looks on the Hardys' faces. "Sean's just signed with Linda. He's waiting in the Kliq locker room. He's heard about this little guy and wants to meet him."
Jeff started nibbling on his bottom lip, glancing nervously at Alex. "Make sure he doesn't have a relapse. And if he starts acting funny take him to Scotty or the trainers... If something seems off come and get us... If-" Matt cut his brother off by putting his hand over his mouth and smiled at Shannon.
"Just watch him, okay Shan?"
Shannon nodded and took off before Jeff could break loose.
When Jeff got Matt's hand off of his mouth he glared at Matt. "I think we should be with him or at least someone who knows what they're doing."
Matt only shook his head and started to get his things together. Just as Jeff was about to start in with another round of why Alex should be with them Matt's emotions decided to catch up with him.
Everything Matt had been feeling since they had road to the hospital in the ambulance with Alex had been rolled up and tucked away. Now it was raring it's head in a very interesting way. Sighing Matt turned and silenced Jeff with the only way he could. He kissed him.
Jeff's protests about Alex died as Matt's lips touched his. For a moment he couldn't do anything but breathe. Then Jeff allowed his tongue to venture out and touch Matt's.
As suddenly as Matt had started the kiss, he ended it. Jeff sighed as he opened his eyes from where he had closed them and watched in amazement as Matt went back to getting his things together for their match that night.
"Come on, Jeffy. We're running behind as it is... And before you ask... we'll talk tonight." Matt flashed Jeff a hot grin before starting to get out of his street clothes and into his wrestling attire.
Jeff stared then shrugged hurrying to get ready. Yeah, they would talk tonight.
Part 5
"Matt, are you sure?"
"I think it's time... Don't you?"
"I don't think we'll ever be more ready." Jeff said with a sigh as he lifted the strange implement in his hand.
"Did you make sure you had it right?" Matt stared at the plastic covered end.
"I think I can handle it, Matt... I mean it's just get some of the stuff on there and stick it in... I've done this before you know... Just not with this stuff."
In his seat Alex giggled and watched his care takers with the spoon and baby food jar.
With a determined look Jeff scooped some of the fruit mixture onto the spoon and held it to Alex's mouth. The little boy just sat there then allowed Jeff to put a little in. The baby had apparently been expecting the cereal mixture they had been feeding him because he made a face and spit, happily splattering Matt's shirt and Jeff's face.
Jeff had a nasty expression as he cleaned himself off and stuck the spoon and baby food to one side.
"I don't think that's right some how." Matt commented as he pulled his shirt off and tucked it in with their laundry bag.
"Shut up, Matt." Jeff growled as he stared at the baby food and then in a move that made Matt almost gag, dipped his finger in and tasted it.
Jeff jumped to his feet and grabbed a napkin to spit. "Oh god... No wonder he won't eat that. It tastes like shit."
Matt, being the supportive elder brother, tasted and agreed with his sentiment. "We've got to find something that doesn't taste like mud."
"I agree... Sorry, Alex. Didn't mean to feed you something that tastes that bad." Jeff said as he capped the baby food and threw it away.
The baby only laughed and started playing with his growing hair. Matt noticed this and started fiddling with the lengthening curls. "Jeffy, I think he needs a hair cut."
The younger brother looked at their tiny charge and shrugged. "It looks fine to me."
Matt held up one of the tiny hands and the hair it held. "What about when he's been playing in something messy."
"Oh." Jeff nibbled on his lip. "Do you just take him to stylist like we go to?"
"I guess... We'll take him to the girls at the arena. If they can't do it then they can tell us who can... And Kevin or Scott should be able to give us an idea of what kind of food for him." Matt started gathering their things to go.
******
"I did the same thing when it came time to feed my first..." Scott told them as he shuttered at the memory of the taste of the baby food.
"So... What do we give 'em? We can't feed him something we wouldn't eat." Jeff said as he waited for Matt to get back with Alex from where the stylists were taking care of his growing hair.
"You could go with organic. That's what we did for Cam." Shawn answered from where he and Sean were relaxing on a couch across the room.
"Yeah... It tastes like real food... Well sorta. It's a little blander, but otherwise it's okay." Sean said as he stretched and yawned before laying his head back onto Shawn's chest.
"Okay... where do we find that stuff?" Jeff was willing to try anything if Alex would eat it. Daddy had told him that Alex needed to start eating more solid things now.
"Just a natural food store." Shawn told him before joining Sean in a little nap before that night's event.
"Have you and Matt had that talk yet?" Scott asked Jeff softly as not to disturb the Seans. Jeff had come to Scott after the match and spoke with the older man, worried about what Matt would tell him that night after their first kiss.
"No... We decided it would be better if we waited till we got home." Jeff frowned a little but he knew it had been a good decision on his part.
"When are you due back?" Scott asked as he watched Jeff closely. He had watched those boys since he had first faced Jeff all those years ago. In a way they had reminded him of Kevin and himself back when they were still unjaded to the business and the world. He only hoped that the things that stood between them wasn't enough to keep the soul-mates apart.
"We have next Tuesday through Friday off."
Scott nodded then smiled when Kevin and Matt came in with Alex. "I see someone with a new hair cut."
Jeff jumped up and scooped Alex out of Matt's arms. Quickly he inspected the new cut. "I like it." He pronounced a moment later then smiled shyly at Matt who gave him a sweet one in return.
"Come on... We need to go find an organic food store." Jeff said as he settled Alex in his arms and started for the door.
Matt was asking something as they left, but Kevin and Scott couldn't hear it.
"Are they..." Kevin left off and made a sweeping gesture then raised an eyebrow.
"I think they're heading that way." Scott turned and seen that both the Seans were still napping. "Why don't we go shower..."
The tall blond could only grin as he grabbed his shower bag and followed his lover.
******
Matt watched Jeff as he fed Alex the organic pear puree they had bought earlier. Jeff was so good with the little guy it made Matt realize how good of a daddy he would be when Jeff had kids of his own... But if they were together there would be no baby Jeffy’s running around... Unless they had some together. Maybe a surrogate or something. Maybe Amy would help them out, after all she was pretty much a female Jeff... well with dyed red hair. That would be great. Matt could just imagine a little girl of their's running around the back of some arena pestering anyone and everyone she came in contact with. Or a little boy trying to learn moves he was too small to do just yet.
"What's that smile for?" Jeff asked as he seen a blissful smile light on his brother's face.
"Just thinking about kids." Matt blushed and turned his attention back to his magazine but not before sneaking one last look at Jeff and Alex.
Jeff shook his head and went back to spooning in the food. As quickly as he could get it in Alex was swallowing it. And Jeff had to agree, it was pretty good, better than that other stuff, for sure. He wondered what his and Matt's talk was going to be about. He knew that they felt the same for one another, but was Matty going to admit to anything that could even loosely be considered improper? He didn't know, but maybe they would be able to be something more than brothers.
‘Well something more than brothers and surrogate parents,’ Jeff thought as he wiped Alex's chin and started to gather the thing to bathe the pear covered baby.
Part 6
Matt watched as Jeff finished laying Alex down for his night's rest. His movements were easy as not to rouse the sleeping infant. For a moment Jeff stood over the cradle that Gil had brought over for his son's to use while they were at home. Matt moved to his side and while biting the inside of his cheek he slid an arm around Jeff's waist.
Jeff jumped slightly them relaxed into his brother's arms as they watched the baby sleep. "Come on." Matt murmured as he pulled Jeff from the bedroom and closed the door behind them.
Once they were outside and sitting on the porch right beside the window of the room Alex was sleeping in Matt sighed and tried to think of what to say.
"Matty... why did you kiss me?" Jeff asked his voice soft not wanting to wake Alex.
Matt could only sigh again. How was he suppose to answer something he didn't know himself? "I... don't really know... It felt like the thing to do... You're not mad about it, are you?"
"No! Oh no... It's just well... unexpected... You know?" Jeff leaned his head back against the house and looked at his brother in the fading light of the sun set.
"I know. I did it and I didn't expect it... Jeff... well I've been-"
"Feeling new things? Yeah me too... Matty, it almost feels like-"
"Love." Matt finished as he seen the soft glow in his baby brother's eyes. He knew that look. It was the same one Momma had gotten when she had looked at Papa.
"How could we be in love?" Jeff asked as he leaned closer, looking at Matt in wonder. Could it really be love? He had almost given up on ever finding it.
"I guess... I don't really know... I've never been in love before." Matt told him softly as he reached out and touched Jeff's cheek, studying those oh so familiar green eyes in a whole new way.
"Me neither... You're not upset that we're brothers, are you?" Jeff shifted closer and pulled the hair tie from Matt's curls, slowly pulling them over his shoulder.
"Not really... I'm more worried what people would say to you. I know their words hurt you." Matt traced Jeff's cheek bone with his thumb as he slid his palm to cup his cheek.
"I don't care... If this is love I won't give it up cause of something someone says... Love only comes once in a life time." Jeff remembered his mother telling him and Matt that many times when they thought their parents were fighting.
Matt chuckled. "Momma told us that. I think she was right."
"Me too." With those soft words and Jeff biting his lower lip, they moved in for their second kiss.
For just a moment their lips caught and held. Then they pulled back, green eyes meeting brown, and sparks flew.
In Matt heart a soft voice whispered things he had heard their momma speaking of many times. Things he hadn't understood until just now. This was love. And he had found it in the most unlikely of places. Inside the person he called brother.
For Jeff there were three things he was thinking of. The first was the joy he felt running inside him. The second was lust. And the third was a sense of love he hadn't known existed. How could he have known love like this existed? He had always looked in the wrong places. It had been waiting for him inside of Matt.
Matt pulled back and smiled at Jeff as he gently finger combed the brightly colored hair. "I love you."
"But I love you more." Jeff said with a huge, but soft smile that wrinkled his nose in the most adorable way.
"We won't be able to date like most people... No matter what we feel people will hate us for it." Matt sighed as the only sticking point came to his mind.
"But you see, Matty, we won't have to worry about people saying anything... I mean we're brothers and we're taking care of a friend's baby. It's normal for us to be together and add in Alex with all of the responsibilities that come with him, no one will think of us being together most of the time." Jeff bounced slightly and then shifted to sit on Matt's lap. "No one will suspect a thing... And as for the joys of holding hands in public or kissing... Well we wouldn't be able to do that any way cause we're super stars. In my mind it doesn't matter what the world things as long as you love me when we're alone."
Matt felt like crying at Jeff's sweetly innocent words. In a way he was right, but when people started to wonder... Well, he would deal with it then... Even if it had to be with the business end of a baseball bat. "Let's go in before the mosquitoes eat us." Using the strength he had made his business, Matt lifted Jeff in his arms as he stood, causing the slightly smaller brother to yelp softly and wrap his legs around Matt's waist.
For a moment they stood there staring, wondering at the strong urges their bodies were leading them in. "Matty... are we..."
"If you want to." Matt said as he starting walking into the house.
Once inside they went to Jeff's bedroom, where Matt laid Jeff down on the bed and turned to move the baby into the spare room so that he wasn't awakened by the brother's nightly activities. He turned on the baby monitor and brought the other with him into the master bedroom. He found Jeff in the position he had left him, except all of his clothes were gone.
A candle on the bedside table cast a low light over Jeff's pale form and shot light off of the belly button ring. Something about that ring drew Matt as he moved closer. He didn't know how it happened, but one minute he was standing over Jeff's who's eyes were watching him intently the next he was sucking hungrily at that ring imbedded in Jeff's tummy.
It didn't take them long before they had Matt's clothes off and were, for the first time nude for one another's viewing. Then Jeff chuckled and rolled onto Matt's chest so that he looked down at him.
"What's so funny?" Matt asked watching Jeff's expressive face.
"You'd expect us to be nervous... But I'm not... I think this is really love, Matty... I think it really is." Jeff's murmured with his lips right next to Matt's.
"I know it is." Matt told him as he rolled them and looked down into Jeff's green eyes and smiled. Then he leaned down and took Jeff's lips in a kiss that made the younger breath a small gasp before sending his tongue out to play in Matt's mouth, tasting his love.
It seemed so right to be touching Jeff like this that Matt sent his free hand down to skim over Jeff's collar bone. As their tongues touched and tasted Jeff's knees came up on either side of Matt's hips forming a cradle for the slightly larger man.
Matt gently reached down and pinched at Jeff's left nipple causing Jeff to gasp into his mouth and grin. Slowly his hand drifted lower and touched anything else he could reach, until he reached his brother's cock.
Jeff broke the kiss as his arms came around Matt's neck. "I'm ready if you are Matty... I have the stuff in the drawer." Nodding Matt continued on his journey. He moved his lips down to suck on that precious neck. As he worked to mark it his hand closed around Jeff's cock. It was hard and silky in his grip. The tip was leaking a generous amount as Matt traced his fingers over and around it.
Moaning Jeff arched into his hand shifted his hand up into Matt's curls, which seemed to be everywhere at once.
Matt moved his mouth lower to bite gently on one nipple making Jeff let out a grunt then another moan. The hand not occupied with slowly stroking his brother was reaching out and feeling for the drawer with the lube.
Jeff giggled when Matt's lips reattached themselves to his belly button ring. "Got... a... belly button fetish?" Matt only grunted as he wiggled the bar bell with his tongue, making Jeff moan again.
Finally Matt's hand found it's way into the drawer and to the tube of lube there. Pulling it out he threw it into the bed where his other hand was starting to work Jeff just a little faster.
"Matty..." Jeff groaned as Matt moved lower and pressed little kisses on his belly until he was face to face with Jeff's large cock.
"You're so beautiful, Jeffy." Matt said softly as he found the small hidden pucker behind Jeff's balls. Jeff arched as the dry finger brushed over the sensitive skin there.
Matt didn't try to press his unlubed finger into Jeff, not wanting to hurt him. If there was anything he didn't want to do it was hurt Jeffy or scare him at this part of their relationship. Quickly, Matt popped open the tube and slicked his fingers with the gel. Matt lifted his eyes to Jeff's in the dim light of the candle as he moved to lay face to face with him and slowly started to work his pointer finger into that tightly sealed portal.
Jeff twisted and fought the urge to tighten his muscle against the intruder.
"Shush... it's okay... Jus' relax... It's gonna be jus' fine." Matt's accent had deepened to the point it startled Jeff into relaxing enough for the finger to slip all the way into him. He gasped and Matt held still as he used his other hand to rub Jeff's cheek.
"I'm okay..." Jeff told him after the burning had receded. Matt nodded and slowly pulled his finger almost out of Jeff then pushed it back in just as slowly.
When that finger moved easily Matt pulled it almost completely out then pushed two back in. As he did this his other hand slid down and started to quickly pump Jeff's flagging erection. Jeff didn't even pay attention to the fingers inside him as he concentrated on the lightly calloused hand that was jerking him with such precision. After Matt was certain that Jeff was into the hand job he was giving him he pressed his fingers in as far as they could and just brushed the protrusion he was looking for.
Jeff let out a yelp and thrust hard into Matt's hand as pure fire formed pleasure raced through him. As it started to fade Matt reached into his again and brushed that place again, making him push hard back onto his fingers, then up into the hand gripping his cock.
Matt chuckled as he pumped his fingers into Jeff at the same pace his other hand was jerking his baby brother's cock. As the two fingers started to moved easier Matt stopped long enough to pull them from Jeff's body and reapply the thinning lube. Then he started pressing three back into Jeff's passage. Jeff stopped and put a hand to Matt's chest as it started to hurt, but Matt's other hand came back and started pulling on his cock again effectively distracting him. Matt didn't move his fingers, giving Jeff time to get us to the stretch. When he seemed relaxed enough Matt pushed a little more in and then as he pressed against Jeff's prostate he took Jeff's lips in a fierce kiss. Jeff gasped into the kiss and pushed hard back onto the fingers intruding in him.
It hurt, that much he was sure, but the pleasure more than made up for the pain. If there was one thing Jeff Hardy could do it was ignore pain. Just as it felt like the lightening shooting up his spine would send him over Matt pulled his fingers out. Jeff whimpered in frustration, to which Matt hushed him gently and moved to smooth lube onto his dick.
"Are you sure you want this?" Matt asked when he had moved his lubed cock into place at Jeff's stretched and moist entrance.
Jeff only nodded and fought the urge to bit his lip. He wanted this, but it scared him, the thought of getting that close to someone. But then he looked into Matt's eyes and seen the same fear. Then he nodded again and smiled. This was right.
Matt took a deep breath and with their eyes locked Matt started to slowly push past the guardian muscles. Jeff hissed but didn't tell him to stop as he slid past the tight muscles. Once he was in as far as he could go Matt paused and smiled at Jeff who was trying to figure out if he liked the full feeling or not.
Jeff's eyes started to glow with an inner light as he realized that he could feel Matt's heart beat inside him. "Matt..." Jeff tried to find the words to tell Matt what he was feeling, but came up blank. Then it came to him. "I love you."
"I love you, too Jeffy. No matter what happens we'll be together forever. I promise." Matt told him as he fought the urge to cry. Jeff had no qualms as a tear slipped down his face.
"Am I hurting you?" Matt asked, wondering if the tear was from pain or happiness. He wouldn't be able to stand himself if he had hurt Jeff in even the littlest of ways.
"No... Matty?"
"Yeah?"
"Move!" Jeff begged as he shifted causing Matt's cock to brush against his prostate.
Matt chuckled before getting serious and thrusting gently into Jeff. Jeff's enthusiasm infected him and soon they were pounding together hard enough to cause the fish tank head board to waver, sending the fish therein into a panic.
Jeff wrapped his legs around Matt waist and started pulling himself into every thrust bringing them together that much harder.
"Matty!" Jeff shrieked as he lost the battle to hold back his orgasm. It gushed out of him, coating both their chests and stomachs.
At the clenching muscles Matt thrust one last time as far into Jeff as he could get and let it go, filling and marking his baby brother as his.
After their explosions they both collapsed. Matt's sated cock slipped from Jeff's well-used anus and they cuddled together in peaceful silence. Matt moved slowly up and gave Jeff a gentle kiss. Then he rose and went to the bathroom. Jeff laid there trying to decide if he wanted to move or not when Matt came back with a wet cloth and washed away the lube and cum covering him. Matt laid it aside and laid down next to Jeff more than ready to get some sleep when a soft whimper form the baby monitor made him groan and Jeff chuckle. As Jeff was going to get up Matt put a hand to his chest.
"You rest... I'll get him." Matt kissed him again and for a moment they smiled at each other then Jeff nodded and laid back down.
Jeff listened to Matt first go into the bathroom and wash his hands then on the monitor as he entered the spare room speaking softly to Alex. While he listened he got up gingerly, well aware of the burning in his ass. He had expected it to be worse, but he could deal with it. After he was certain he could move okay he grabbed a set of sheets from the closet and proceeded to change the bed. There was no way in hell he was sleeping in the mess they had made.
***
“Oh... someone's wet... Let's see if we can take care of that before we get you're late supper.”
Jeff chuckled as Matt made mock gags. After the diaper was changed the duo went into the kitchen and Jeff finished the bed before crawling back into it. A few minutes later Matt came back into the bedroom with Alex in his arms and a bottle in his hand.
Jeff held out his arms and took Alex while Matt settled himself beside them. Once comfortable Matt pulled Jeff's between his legs and handed Jeff the bottle. Silently they laid together watching Alex eat. As he swallowed the last of his bottle, the baby fell asleep and Matt noticed Jeff was out as well. Not seeing any other option, Matt took the bottle, setting it on the bedside table and shifted them until they were all laid out flat. Jeff was curled up in Matt's arms and Alex was cradled in Jeff's.
Matt smiled at them and realized that he was happy. Completely and 100% happy. Wrapping his arms just a little tighter around them he settled in to get some sleep himself. He and Jeff would have to talk in the morning. In just over a month and a half Alex's mother would come home. And Matt know knew for certain he wanted children to raise with Jeff. But that would come later. Right now, they were on their honeymoon so to speak and Matt had every intention to make the most of it.
Part Seven
Jeff was bouncing Alex on his hip as he stirred the cooling jello. It had been three days since they had talked and made love for the first time. And tomorrow they went back on the road. Jeff didn't know if it would show on his face, but he thought it might. He felt like he was glowing from the inside out.
Just as he was ready to put Alex down so he could move the jello to the fridge the phone rang startling Alex. "It's okay." Jeff shushed him as he grabbed it and answered. "Hello?"
Moments later Jeff hung up the phone and slide to the floor cradling Alex to him and crying.
That was how Matt found them twenty minutes later. "Jeffy?... What's wrong baby?" Matt asked as he sank down next to him. Jeff turned and buried himself and Alex into Matt's chest.
"What is it?" Matt asked getting more scared when Jeff wouldn't talk to him.
"Sidney... Alex's mother... she... she... died!" Jeff burst out as he started crying hard.
"What?... What happened?" Matt asked as he pulled them closer without squishing Alex.
"She... caught somethin'... down in South America... Matty... that... that was her lawyer on the phone... she had no family... Before she died... she... she had her professor take down her... will... Matty... she wanted me to take custody Alex..." Jeff said between sobs as he rocked Alex, who had no clue what had happened.
Matt's eyes got wide as he shifted a little to look into Jeff's eyes. "Are you?"
"Of course I am... I... It's just that I was worried you might not want him around... you since we just got together..." Jeff bit his lip looking at Matt with worry that he might just lose the best thing to ever happen to him.
"I love the little guy... Just the other night I was thinking about who we could get to be a surrogate for us when we were ready for children." Matt smiled at the stunned expression on Jeff's face.
"Really?"
"Really. Now it looks like our family is starting with this little guy." Matt told him and lifted Alex into his arms. Jeff smiled and wiped his tears away.
"The lawyer said I would need to go in and fill out all of the stuff... But as soon as it filled I'll be able to adopt Alex... He'll be a Hardy." Jeff said as he mind raced to the future not wanting to think about the fact he needed to arrange Sidney's effects. She had been buried down there, but there was still the matter of her things and house, all of which she had left to Jeff as a way to take care of Alex.
"Well, Daddy will be happy." Matt commented wondering how close Jeff and this Sidney had been.
"Matt, Sid and I were just friends..." Jeff said all but reading Matt's mind, then he smiled a little more. "You're right though. Daddy will be ecstatic."
"Come on, let's get you up and wash your face. Then we'll take a nap and relax before I call and talk to Linda about getting a few days off to handle all of these matters, okay?" Matt asked as he pulled Jeff to his feet and ran a hand over Alex's head.
"'kay."
Epilogue
Four Months Later
Matt was humming Christmas carols as he hung the last of the ornaments on the tree. It was their first Christmas together.
After the call from Sidney's lawyer it had taken them a week to get everything straightened out and her house on the market. Once it had sold Jeff had put the money from it into a college fund for Alex. They had kept the things they thought Alex would want from the house like some photo albums and a few pieces of jewelry, everything else they had sold and put the money into the college fund.
It had taken just over a months and a half for the lawyers to get the paper work done and give Alex the Hardy name. It had been a grand day in early October and they had invited everyone to a cook out since it had been so nice. They had all cheered as Jeff signed the last papers. No one commented on the fact that the brother's had moved in together or that Matt had sold his house and they were making plans on building a bigger one near Jeff's trailer, right in the middle of the Imagination.
Surprisingly, it had been Shane who had bought Matt's house and not long after that he and Shannon announced that they were officially a couple and that Shannon would be moving in with him.
"Matt!" Jeff let out a soft shriek bring Matt out of his thoughts making him turn in time to see Alex, who had pulled himself upright next to the couch, take a step without the aid of the couch for support.
Matt was on his knees holding out his arms in second. Alex made a little turn and, smiling, walked into Matt's arms. Matt scooped him up and stood swinging him in a circle.
"Can you believe that?" Jeff asked as he ran over from where he had been standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Almost not. He's walking... We're going to need to baby proof the house even more now." Matt said smiling and passing Alex to Jeff how swung him in another circle, making the little boy laugh.
"Yeah, but not yet. I wish we had gotten it on camera." Jeff said when he stopped twirling. Alex laughed and tugged on a lock of Jeff's growing hair.
"Me too. I can't wait to tell Dad tonight at the dinner." Matt said referring to the Christmas Eve dinner they were having. Shannon and Shane were walking over from Matt's old house and Gil was coming.
"Matty, I just realized somethin'." Jeff said laying his head on Matt's shoulder.
"What's that?" Matt laid his head on Jeff's and put his arm around his waist.
"We're a family." Jeff giggled and cuddled Alex closer.
"Yeah, we are aren't we?" Matt said as it hit him.
"Think Momma's smiling down on us?" Jeff asked softly.
"You know what? I think she's been lookin' after us since Alex came into our lives." Matt told him honestly.
"I think so, too. I also think Sidney's up there smiling too." Jeff cuddled up closer to Matt.
"I think it's somebody's nap time." Matt said noticing a yawn from the youngest Hardy.
"I have to agree. He's needs to be his best for tonight... And so do we. But for some reason it seems that we only got a couple of hours of sleep last night." Jeff raised an eye brow to which Matt had the grace to blush.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Matt lied through his teeth as he took Alex and started back to the spare room. Jeff wasn't far behind and as soon as Matt had laid the sleepy baby down Jeff grabbed him by the pants and drug him to their bedroom.
"We need a nap too... And no funny business... Got it mister?" Jeff said shoving Matt onto their bed and landing on top of him.
"Of course not." Matt gave him an all to familiar grin as he rolled Jeff under him.
2 Hours Later
Jeff was awakened by the ringing of the phone. Half awake he rolled over Matt and grabbed it. "Yeah?"
"Oh Jeff, I'm glad I got you... I need a big favor." a soft voice said on the other end.
The familiarity of this situation woke Jeff quickly. "Who ever you are, if you want me to babysit, not only 'no', but 'hell no'!"
"What the hell are you talking about, Jeff?" Shannon asked staring at the phone wondering what was up with his friend.
"Shannon? Oh... sorry... You needed something?" Jeff could have laughed in relief. It had seemed like the past was repeating itself for a moment.
"I just need you to come and help me get Sugar's present." Shannon said softly as he looked over at where his boyfriend was humming and cooking for the dinner that night.
"Sure, Shan... Just give me a bit to wake up... Matty and I were napping." Jeff said as he got up easily so as not to wake Matt up. "Oh... napping were we?" Shannon asked a saucy tone to his voice.
"Yeah, an actual nap... Shannon, don't be a pervert we're parents. Sleep is a precious commodity. I'll be there in a few. See ya then." Jeff said then hung up when Shannon said 'bye'.
"Hey, Matty..." Jeff said as he kissed Matt awake.
"Umm, what?" Matt opened his eyes and smiled.
"I gotta go help Shanny. You have everything under control here?" Jeff asked as he stood and started pulling on his clothes.
"Yeah... Be careful, okay?" Matt said as he stood and gave Jeff a hug and long kiss before seeing him to the door where they shared a longer kiss.
"I'll be fine." Jeff said as he walked out to his car and then waved as he drove off. It felt strange knowing that he was leaving his family. And even stranger that he would be coming home to them in a few hours. Jeff had to chuckle when he realized he and Matt had become ever more of a family from an innocent babysitting job. Well, it wasn't babysitting any more. And Jeff could honestly say he didn't mind it one bit.
