Today is your day, Jeff thought to himself as he looked in the mirror before another match with Johnny Nitro.

The date was October 2nd. This would mark his true return to the WWE, the return of the enigma.

This was his third chance at the Intercontinental Championship since his return, and everyone knows that the third time is the charm.

Everything was planned out. They already decided what spots they would do and what spots they would miss. Their system had worked last time, so now they just added another element.

It was now that Jeff Hardy wished that Johnny Nitro was always going to be his opponent. The two complimented each other so well, and Nitro understood how Jeff needed to work.

And Jeff knew that not everyone would be like that.

He could feel the vibrations of the crowd cheering through the metal of the ramp below him. He didn't know when to start dancing, so he relied on the crowd's dancing to cue him in. And after his fireworks, he ran down to the ring, trying to slap hands with as many fans as he could reach.

Nitro and Melina were already in the ring, so Jeff didn't have time to get pre-match butterflies in his stomach, but he was still reeling.

The bell rung, and Jeff was instantly met with a sharp kick to the stomach. Nitro took control over the beginning of the match until Jeff made a move after Nitro whipped him into the ropes. He began his series of unique offensive moves, even almost getting Nitro with the Twist of Fate before he escaped and rolled out of the ring.

Melina, of course, went to the aid of her boyfriend. Jeff saw and jumped over the ropes, prompting Nitro to push Melina out of the way. Seeing that all he would hit was the floor, Jeff landed on the apron and leaped off of it, landing this time on Johnny Nitro.

Jeff got up and stalked towards Melina, who cowered back in fear. Seeing that she would do nothing, he returned his attention to Nitro.

Once he had gotten him back in the ring, Nitro took control, putting Jeff in a series of submission moves. Melina egged him on until Jeff managed to stand up to escape the hold. After a few punches, Jeff whipped Nitro into the turnbuckle, squeezing his shoulder to tell him to move away from his next move. Jeff attempted the Whisper in the Wind, but Nitro had rolled out of the ring just in time, causing Jeff to land on his back.

Melina demanded that her boyfriend get back in the ring, and he did, only to prematurely pin Jeff, who kicked out after the two count. Nitro continued to beat Jeff senseless after his failed high risk move, even to the point of ramming Jeff's shoulder into the steel post. Nitro dragged Jeff back into the middle of the ring and stood up with his hands on his hips, wondering what to do next.

Having decided his next move, he grabbed Jeff by the hair, forcing him to stand. He tossed Jeff up onto his shoulders and performed a backbreaker over his knee. Following another unsuccessful pinning attempt, Nitro tried another maneuver, this time using another submission hold.

The crowd chanted "HARDY! HARDY! HARDY!" but Jeff couldn't hear their pleas for him to escape. Nevertheless, he knew they were behind him. With the fire of the fans beneath him, he escaped that submission hold, as well, but Nitro grabbed his hair and threw him down, landing with his back slamming onto Nitro's knee.

He put the same submission move on Jeff once again. This time, Jeff not only managed to escape, but also to put that same submission hold onto Nitro. Nitro reversed that, but Jeff did a flip and kicked Nitro to the ground.

Jeff got up first. As Nitro stirred, Jeff started some explosive offense, diving onto his opponent numerous times. Nitro tried to escape to the safety, and to Melina, outside the ring, but Jeff grabbed Nitro and flipped him back into the ring as he stood on the apron. Jeff applied an innovative pin, using his legs to hold Nitro down, but this time, it was his turn to have an unsuccessful pinfall.

Nitro stood up, but Jeff beat him to the punch. Jeff ran to the turnbuckle and took a second chance at Whisper in the Wind, hitting it on the standing Johnny Nitro. Jeff quickly went for the pin, squeezing Nitro's shoulder as he did so. After the kickout, the fans weren't happy. They wanted their hero to be champion once again.

Jeff continued his assault on Nitro until Melina pulled her boyfriend out of the ring. Jeff did a baseball slide between the ropes and knocked Nitro down. Melina quickly scattered before she could be hit. She tried picking her boyfriend up, but Jeff ran across the barrier between the ring and the fans, jumping off and hitting not only Nitro, but Melina this time, as well. All three people laid on the outside of the ring, Melina clutching her leg.

The men got back into the ring and Nitro got the cheap shot, stepping on Jeff's back. Nitro pulled Jeff up to the top rope with him and squeezed his shoulder. Nitro flipped over Jeff's back, going for a powerbomb, but Jeff held his ground and stayed on the ropes, letting Nitro roll off of his back and fall to the ground.

He quickly turned around and saw the opportunity, the one he was waiting for. He looked around and saw all the faces cheering for him, all the signs in support for him.

Welcome Back Jeff

Jeff Next IC Champ

Swanton Nitro

And then he jumped.

One.

Two.

Three.

How sweet it would have been for Jeff to be able to hear Lilian's words. "Your winner and the NEW Intercontinental Champion: Jeff Hardy!"

But he couldn't.

Still, that couldn't take away from the fact that he had done what no one believe he could do. Even with his disability, he was able to not only return to the ring, but to also win a championship.

And this title was sweeter to him than all the rest.