The Way to Eden

Eden rolled the water bottle around in her hands as she mulled over her situation. She was about to call Jeff and tell him she would leave her group in a little over a week to rendezvous with him at his house in Cameron. She'd checked various promotional schedules and knew that Henry was right. Jeff would be home, whereas his brother, Matt, and best friend, Shannon would be across the country signing autographs for the Smackdown! brand. Tara Moore, formerly known as Rio, had been traveling with her husband for the last six months and there was no reason for her not to be with him this time. She'd even checked the airline records, as Samuel had taught her, and noted that Tara's ticket had already been confirmed, along with Shannon's. Rio would be as shocked as the others when Jeff's body was finally found. There didn't seem to be any opportunity for the plan to fail.

Unless she lost her nerve. Eden knew she had to overcome her misgivings. Jeff, as amusing and charming as he was had to die. She'd been paid and Samuel was expecting her to prove his training was successful. Her future life and everything she'd been bred for was depending on her successfully completing her mission.

Her mind wandered back to the dream she'd had the previous night. She was in a room, presumably in Jeff's home, while he stood near. He'd been quite excited to show her around and help her plan her permanent break from Sergei and Samuel. She was smiling, too. She remembered feeling a sense of safety and belonging, such as she'd never experienced with her guardian. Jeff held her close while they walked around the large house. Suddenly, they were in a darkened room, and a craze seemed to overtake her. She heard Jeff scream then fall. When she turned on the life, she was staring down at his lifeless gaze. There was a large rip in his neck and her knife dropped out of her hand next to him. Blood ran from its blade and covered her hand and clothing. She woke in a cold sweat, crying his name.

It had taken her the better part of the morning to calm her nerves and right her thinking. At first, she hadn't been sure she could go through with the plan. But daylight and a pot of coffee finally prevailed. She knew it would be the most difficult thing she had to do, but Eden had to do it. Sighing as she watched a bird fly past her window, Eden picked up her cell phone and dialed Jeff's number.

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Tara picked up her old gear bag and sifted through its contents. One facemask, two back-ups and three cans of silver body paint mingled with her three pairs of tights, three sports bras, two pairs of ninja boots and one pair of nylon gloves. The old and bloodied Series title belt remained mounted in its case in the den where Shannon insisted it be displayed as a tribute to their meeting. Everything else that had made her Rio was contained in the bag she held. Shannon stood nearby, watching in a sad silence. She knew he was unhappy about her decision to go covert in order to keep an eye on Jeff. But she also knew he understood the need.

Justin had offered to do it, but Tara felt his abilities would be best applied to tracking down Henry and helping Sven find out as much about Sin as possible. There were some things she hadn't learned well from them and computer surveillance was one of them. She had always preferred to concentrate on fighting. And there was denying the inescapable fact that she felt responsible for Jeff's welfare. Once upon a time, the young daredevil had defied his brother and friends, and saved her from what she perceived was her destiny. She knew she had to return the favor. She turned to face her husband now, trying to decide how to explain her need.

"No need," he said quietly.

How the hell did he do that? She was constantly surprised at his perception. She should have known he was reading her this time, too. He always did. It was one of things that made them 'gel' as a couple.

"But I need to know that you're okay with this," she protested, playing with his blond ponytail.

"I cain' NOT be, Tar," he replied. "'E's my bes' frien'. My brotha. An' no matta 'ow long I think about it, I kno' there's no otha way ta git through t' 'im. She's gonna kill 'im if I don' letcha go t' 'im. I cain' lose 'im."

"I'm so sorry," she sighed as the tears began trickling down her face. "I never knew Henry would become this deadly."

"I's notcho' faul'," he said reaching for her and taking her in his arms. "An' I kno' yo' comin' back ta me, jus' like ya used ta when ya 'ad yo' matches."

"I will ALWAYS belong to you, Shannon," she vowed. "Never, ever doubt that."

"I kno'," he smiled. "I jus' like ta 'ear it."

"Are you sure your cousin doesn't mind filling in for me?"

"Hell no," he grinned. "She's excited as all git out ta be travellin' wit' me, fin'lly. I 'ad to practically pry 'er off me when I ask'ed 'er."

"She realizes she'll be taken for me, right? Even by the boys?"

"She was a bit disappoin'ed 'bout that," he answered, not dropping his grin. "I think she was 'opin' ta git close ta Haas. Bu' I stress'd ta 'er tha' she would be wearin' sunglasses th' whole time an' stay 'oled up intha 'otel room, like you been doin' recently."

"If Henry has people watching, he HAS to think she's me. If he gets any suspicions about that, Jeff could be in an even greater danger."

"I KNO', baby!"

"I'm sorry," she sighed, dropping her forehead against his shoulder. "I'm just so worried this won't come off clean, you know?"

"I unnerstan'," he replied, rubbing her back and kissing the top of her dark blonde head. "She'll behave. I promis'd 'er tha' we'd taker wit' us when this was all ova so she could meet 'im lata, as 'erself."

"Todd's going to shadow you all to make sure no one gets a chance to pull any surprises on you."

"'E already tol' Matt 'bout it."

"God, I hope I can end this soon."

"Ya will, he said tilting her face back up to his. "Rio neva fail'd befo', she ain' aboutta disappoin' now."

"I hope you're right."

"'Bout Rio?" he chuckled. "I always am."

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Jeff struggled to answer his phone before it woke Shane up. The green haired wrestler had come back to the room falling down drunk again. Jeff wondered if he was going to have to talk Matt and Shannon into helping him perform an intervention. He laughed at the irony of the high-flying daredevil organizing such a task for another man's behavior. But it would have to wait until he had Sin away from her club, anyway, so he had time to contemplate it.

"'Lo?" he spoke quietly into the phone. He knew it was probably Sin, as Matt and Shannon were likely just getting back from their weekly traveling. He also knew that if Shane were sober and discovered him on the phone with Sin, Jeff would likely get another lecture on how the woman was bad news. Maybe he should be thankful for Shane's near-constant inebriation after all.

"Jeff?" Sin asked uncertainly. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"No, baby," he smiled as he spoke softly, "I jus' wanna make sure I don' my frien', Shane."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"I's okay," he laughed. "'E's drunk as usual anyway."

"He drinks a lot?"

"A lot lately," the younger Hardy griped. "I'm beginnin' ta think 'e's no' 'appy ta be travelin' wit' me."

"Why wouldn't he be?"

"I'll take tha' as a complimen'," he grinned. "I jus' think 'e misses workin' wit' Shannon."

"Your friend?"

"Ya kno' Shan's my frien'?" he asked in amazement. "You been checkin' up on me, huh?"

"Maybe a little."

"Tha's cool," he chuckled. "'Ave ya thought 'bout our las' conversation?"

"Yes."

"Ya gonna keep me in suspense?"

"Maybe," she said with a silky smile in her voice that curled his toes.

"Please?"

"Okay."

"Okay ya'll tell me?" he asked confused. "O' okay, ya'll come wit' me?"

"Both," she said softly in an almost childlike voice.

Jeff's heart skipped a beat. She was coming. She was really coming with him. He hadn't dared let himself hope she would agree until he'd actually heard it. But there it was. She said she would let him help her and he believed her. Now he had to keep his raging hormones in check. He didn't want her to think there were any strings attached to this deal. She'd already sacrificed enough in her life, and he wasn't about to be put in the same league as her trainer.

"I'm so glad yo' comin', baby."

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'SHIT', Shane thought as he heard Jeff's side of the conversation. He knew this would happen. He'd warned the others. Well, Tara would be on the case now. He'd spoken to Shannon and Matt earlier to confirm and she was already on her way. Shannon sounded pretty stoic about it, but they all knew she wouldn't have it any other way now that Henry's plan was apparent. Shane only hoped that she didn't have to break her own rule and kill someone. That would truly destroy the small warrior.

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Eden hung up after making her plans with Jeff and getting directions to his place. She held the phone to her chest as she assimilated the enormity of the task ahead of her and cried softly.

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Tara glanced around the small arena and frowned. It looked a lot like her former haunts. She didn't like this set up at all. She opted for a seat in one of the middle levels to see the action without being noticeable. She's grown her hair out since she'd last traveled the circuit. It was almost as long as her husband's now. When traveling with him, however, she traditionally wore it up in a twist or a braid to keep it away from her face. Now she let it hang down in a straight sheet. She'd also dyed it a dark red, like her friend Amy, and she'd recently had her eyebrow and nose pierced. She brought along a lot of her grungier clothes, wearing mostly leather pants now, and she wore make up. She didn't normally, but now she applied it heavily. She wanted to be damned sure nobody would recognize her.

The matches so far had been more or less what she'd expected of Sergei's style: a lot of martial arts, minimal muscle, maximum weaponry. Sin had already had her first match and Tara agreed with Shane, she took noticeable pleasure in wounding others. As far as the small former Series champion could see, there were no redeeming qualities to be seen in her. Shane had checked in earlier to tell her about Jeff's new plans to meet Sin in North Carolina. Tara intended to become a most unpleasant surprise for the tall fighter when she arrived.