RRatedauthor, why thank you, I definitely appreciate it. Debwood-1999, aw, thanks, hun. Sorry about your dad. Yeah, writing can be good therapy. It's felt good doing it again. TheGirlInThePinkScarf, & thank you again, hearing that meant a lot to me. Esha Napoleon, you're sweet, darling. Thank you. LadyDrahonsblood, I totally hope so. If not, I may hit it one day. Thanks. JoMoFan-spot, out of all my fics I think this one most deserves to be completed. I'm very proud of it. Thank you, I'll always appreciate it. Rhiannamator, maybe an era needed to end to begin a new. Hee, everybody needs a Jay. Thank you, baby.

Sold to a Hardy;
Chapter twenty-seven/ 'The Way It Ends'
Rated; M/ L, S (just a smidge, rape theme, threatening)

Jay was still trying to get to the bottom of it, figure it out some. It was all very tiring. Jeff was surprised when Adam started to call. It wasn't much, but it was a start, especially back into his life again.

"Hey, Jeff." The blonde greeted on the other line.

"Adam?" Jeff's voice sounded tired and disbelieving.

"Um, yeah.. Listen, I heard about Matt from Jay. I'm sorry."

"It's, uh.. it's complicated." Jeff took a breath. "I'm sorry.. there's so much if I could of done different, if I could go back, I would. I didn't want it to go this way. I wanted to do shit different."

"You didn't even have the balls to defend me." The tone wasn't rude, just simply stating a fact.

Jeff rubbed his forehead. "I regret that. I guess I.. I guess I had some growing up to do. I guess we all have."

-xx-

There were more calls.

"Uh, how've you been?" Adam asked over the cellphone.

"How've I been?" Jeff asked cautiously.

"Yeah, how're you feeling?" At least he sounded concerned, friendly.

"I feel like shit, Adam. I don't have you, my brother's not here." Jeff sighed. "Nothing's right."

"Oh, well, um.. I.." There was breathing.

"Look, I know I screwed up. I'm sorry. I can't take it back. Entertaining the thought of Matt buying your contract was a piss-poor idea. I honestly didn't know Matt was going to take it as far as he did. And it was my fault, Addy.. I should've stood up to him.. I shouldn't have been so afraid to tell you how I felt. We'd never be in this mess. I'm sorry. I dunno what else to say."

Mostly Adam hung up and Jeff would feel stupid. Sometimes he wouldn't answer right away, but he always did.

-xx-

Sometimes Adam would be angry. Jeff didn't blame him.

"How could you love me and still love Matt after what he did to me? After Matt hurt me?"

"He's my brother.. it was hard on me too, y'know. I wanted to hate him.. Matt's not always been a monster. Stubborn, hard-headed.. but after the thing with Amy happened, something in him snapped."

Adam huffed. "Oh, it fucking snapped alright."

"I know. I had never seen him so angry, so damaged before and everything just festered and festered and ate away at him till it was bound to come out somewhere. I'm so sorry, Adam. It was all my fault. I wish it had been me that it came out on, not you. I would've took it if I could do it over again." Jeff chewed at his chipping nail polish. "It should've been me. It was all my fault. If I had've just told you back then, took a chance and just told you that I loved you.. you're the one risk I never took because I was too scared and I'll regret it always.."

-xx-

"I miss you. I don't know if you believe me or not.. I just do. I really did love you, Adam. I'm really sorry."

Jeff had apologized again and again. Adam usually grumbled an incoherent response and excused himself off the phone.

-xx-

Adam laid on his bed, phone in hand. He sat up and sighed. It felt good to talk to Jeff again without Matt or Randy, whether it was doing any good or not. "Jeff, you know I love you in spite of it all, you wouldn't hate me if I said I think I love Randy too, would you?"

"No." The younger said quietly. Maybe Adam was playing mind games with him now. Maybe he deserved it.

"I mean you love both me and Matt." He picked at the bedsheets as he talked.

"Adam, me and Randy will never be BFFs or anything, but I know he cares about.." Jeff took a breath. "I know that he loves you and all that.. and I've thought about it a lot and.. I don't want to take you from Randy. I'm willing to compromise if he is.. If that's what you want, Adam.."

Adam didn't know what he wanted. "What about Matt?"

Jeff was quiet a moment. "Matt's got some personal demons to work through."

-xx-

Jay had even tried to play his own manipulating games, get Jeff and Randy to agree to share. So against his better judgment of them killing each other, he got them both together in the locker room.

"What if Adam wants you both?"

"But, Jay.." Jeff started.

"You can't be serious, man." Randy huffed.

Jay stood propped up against the lockers. "I'm dead serious. C'mon, why would it be so bad to compromise? Adam loves you both, you both love him, Adam wants to be loved. I'm sure you two can tolerate each other for his sake if you both love him the way you both claim to."

"But Jeff Hardy doesn't deserve him. I still wanna snap his fucking neck." Randy growled. The only reason was Matt.

"But I hate Orton." Jeff said smally. The only reason was because Randy was in the way of him having Adam.

"But why? Randy has taken care of Adam.." Jay asked, arms folded.

"By manipulating him." Jeff pointed out.

"Oh, hush, Jeff. You've no right to talk about manipulation." Randy ground out without shouting.

Jeff closed his mouth and gazed down. Jay stood up straight and wiped his hands on his jeans.

"Both of you need to let go of all your silly excuses before we can come to an agreement. Randy may have been somewhat in the wrong, but he took care of Adam, made sure he was safe and helped him through the dark time your brother put him through. Jeff, for that, hate him or not, you should be grateful to Orton." Jay stated.

Randy scoffed. "Jeff doesn't love Adam, he's just obsessed with him. He can't take care of him."

Jay sighed. "Whether or not what Jeff feels for Adam is obsession or love, it doesn't matter he's not gonna let this go. And on a personal note; I do think Jeff loves Adam. I think you both do and both of you have twisted Adam around to this."

Randy bit back a snarl. "I took care of Adam.. I protec-"

Jay cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I know that. I'm not talking about in the past few months, I'm talking about long ago. But the past is the past already and it needs to be buried. Adam still loves Jeff and you want Adam happy. And you'll be in Adam's life to protect him, take care of him just in case. It'd be what Adam would want. He doesn't wanna toss you out in the cold. I know you both can compromise for Adam's sake. It should be about what he wants, guys. C'mon."

Jeff was drained and quiet. "I already told Adam I'd tolerate Randy. I just want Adam in my life. I'm so tired of all of this. I just want it to be okay."

Randy gritted his teeth. "Okay, so fine. I agree to share Adam with Jeff.. What about Matt? I still don't trust Matt won't hurt Adam and Jeff won't be able to stop him."

Jay's lips quirked. "I understand. You leave Matt to me."

-xx-

Matt was startled as Jay grabbed him and shoved him against the wall. The blue eyed man glared at him fiercely. He didn't have to ask why he was pissed, he could damn well guessed. "Um.. Jason..?"

"Shut up. Shut the fuck up." He growled. "What the fuck, Matt. Seriously, what the fucking hell?" He released the older Hardy as two guards stared at him.

Matt shook his head at the guards and waved them off before leading Jay to somewhere they could talk privately. "You don't understand, Jay."

Jay was back in his face. "Oh, I think I do. I get it, you lost your BFF, he took your girlfriend away and then tried to take your brother and lover away. You were angry. Big deal! Get the fuck over it. Cry a fucking river and drown your bullshit. Now this whole time, I've been a pacifist and tried to stay out of it. Through all of it.. but you went a little too far in what you did to Adam. Raping him." He said lowly. "Fucking with his head. Don't fucking give me the you-love-him bullshit either. I don't wanna hear it because as far as I'm concerned you've fucked up your chances with Adam."

Matt backed off. "I know, Jay. I know. Okay. Can't you see I'm trying to get help?"

"Yeah, I see." Jay snarled. "I also see that if you ever again lay another hand intent to harm on my Adam again, I will hurt you in such frightening ways. You won't have to worry about Jeff or Randy, you'll have me to deal with. Got it?"

Matt swallowed and nodded. It wasn't best to anger a pacifist apparently.

"You were my friend and I loved you, but Adam is my life." Jay spat.

"Jay, stop it. I have no intention of hurting Adam again." Matt sat down on a empty couch in the room.

Jay still stood. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Matt shook his head. "I dunno, I.. it was a momentary lapse in my sanity I think."

"Jesus, Matt, there's no excuse for that shit." Jay twitched, on the verge of pacing.

Matt hung his head. "I know."

"No, I don't think you do. This could have been your chance to put everything back together. Forget the past and Amy. What was done was done. Amy isn't important to this equation anymore.. just you and Adam and Jeff. Buying Adam's contract, it should have been your opportunity to give Jeff what he wanted." The blonde explained.

Matt raked his hair back. "You know it all too, huh?"

"Jeff told me. I was the only one Jeff told. He begged me to keep quiet. And stupidly I did because I was a good friend.. or I thought I was. After I found out Adam.. and Amy.. and you.. I backed out. I didn't know what to do. Adam's my best friend, my brother. But me and you and Jeff were all so close. I knew why Adam slept with her. I knew it had something to do with Jeff and you and I just.. I wish I had've said something." Jay shook his head, staring at the ground.

"It's not your fault, Jay." Matt mumbled.

Jay's head snapped back up. "No, it's yours." It wasn't mumbled.

Matt glared at him.

Jay continued. "I thought I should beat myself up over it, but it happened. Oh-well. Adam made a mistake. You could've said something too. You could've told Adam how badly he hurt you. How bad he hurt Jeff."

"I know, Jay." Really he didn't need no more of this. He wanted to put it all behind him and consider himself lucky that shit wasn't worse than it was.

"Matt, you have a lot of anger inside you. A lot of pain. And it's gonna destroy you unless you do something. Or it's gonna cause you to go off again and hurt someone else you love." Jay said, talking with his large ass hands.

"You don't think I don't know this?" Matt asked, staring up at the other man.

Jay crossed his arms. "No, I'm not sure you know anything."

Matt snorted. "Great. Now you of all people gonna insult me."

Jay shook his head. "No, Matt. I'm not. You're only human. Just like Jeff and just like Adam and me. We all have our little laundry list of things we regret."

Matt exhaled and sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on his knees. "I know I fucked up. You're right. I could have made it work if I hadn't.. hurt Adam. I pushed him into Orton's arms and blew my chances. Blew Jeff's chances. I at least want Adam to know that Jeff had nothing to do with me raping Adam. He didn't know about it. He seriously thought the whole thing was about us having a little fun with Adam. He never intended to hurt him that way."

"It wasn't what you or Jeff did to him physically that hurt him. Adam's tough, he's been through worse. It was what you did to him on the inside. Emotionally. He's got a heart, you know. And you damaged it." Jay said pointing down at the dark haired man.

"How do I fix this then?" Matt groaned, rubbing his temples.

Jay shrugged. "I dunno. Get help, what you're doing here. If not for Adam, but for yourself. For Jeff. And, uh, stay out of shit. I'd leave Adam alone for a long while. I know you wanna talk to him and maybe one day that'd be great, but just let him figure his shit out first. I'm still trying to figure it out myself."

Matt nodded and looked down and back up at Jay. "Still got awhile before my treatment here is over anyway."

Jay smiled. "Now about that contract.."

-xx-

Chris "Jericho" Irvine was waiting for Jay when he got in the car. "So, how did everything go?"

"Better than expected. God, they're all such stubborn assfucks." He put on his seat belt and started the ignition.

Chris chuckled. "Yeah. The messes Adam manages to get himself into. What would he do without us to bail him out?"

"Oh, what have you done? I'm the one who's ran himself ragged." He checked the mirrors and adjusted his radio where Chris had touched it.

Chris examined his nails. "I've helped before in the past. I just decided to sit this one out is all.. So you think they'll all be alright with all this?"

Jay was quiet. Chris didn't know the all of the story, just that there was a major catfight going on between his friends and mainly concerning Edge's contract that the Hardys bought. Finally he spoke. "No. I don't think they'll be alright period. I think they're all fucked up. But, oh-well, what can you do?" Jay said, pulling out.

-xx-

There had been a lot of talking and debating that eventually lead to nowhere. A lot of hopes had been raised and dashed. Adam had been alone a lot. Jay was trying to help, but now he needed to back off too. Of course, Jay did so. Adam really didn't want anyone right now. He had made a few decisions of his own, that while they weren't permanent and were just for the time being, they would just have to be accepted and that was it.

Adam met Jeff in catering. "I've gave a lot of thought to the things Jay's said.." He cleared his throat. "And I've decided I don't wanna see Matt.. at least just yet. I know how he feels about me."

And Jeff let out a sigh of relief. Matt needed help first and wounds needed to heal a bit.. or at least get scabbed over.

"And it's okay.. but I just don't know. I'm not ready and I need some time. Me and Matt's still got our issues and no matter about anything good I felt it's overshadowed by all that darkness. Me and Matt would never be happy or okay. A part of me wishes it could.. if things would've been different." Adam said, picking at his nails.

"What about us?" It came out so small.

The taller blonde looked up and sighed. "I love you, Jeff.. but we could never be happy. It's too complicated. It'll never be right. We don't fit." He wasn't sure how much he meant any of it anymore, but he had to force himself to get over Jeff Hardy for good.

"But, Adam.. I love you." Jeff didn't understand.

"I know. We just can't be together." A strand of blond fell into hazel eyes and Jeff twitched in not being able to tuck it behind his ear.

"Randy..? Matt..?" The younger man questioned.

"Randy and Matt have nothing to do with this.." Adam almost winced. "Okay, they do.. but it just won't work. I wanted it to. There's too much going on. Your brother would never let us be happy and I can't share you after.. I'm not gonna ask you to give him up."

"But, Adam.. I can't.." His voice was tight.

"Please, Jeff. If you love me truly.. just let me go. I need to be on my own for awhile. I need you to stop and leave me alone. Please, you owe me that much. Let me go." Adam stared at him, face pleading and eyes desperate.

Jeff sniffled and nodded. Adam mirrored the nod and started to walk away. Jeff stared down. "I'll always love you, Adam."

The blonde turned on his heel and moved toward Jeff, taking his head in his hands and using his thumbs to wipe his tears away as they caressed his cheeks. He was aware of Jeff holding to his wrists as he leaned down to give Jeff one final kiss on the lips, capturing his mouth and tasting him one last time. Jeff was crying by the time he pulled away.

"Goodbye, Jeff." And Adam was gone.

-xx-

Adam stayed alone for awhile just giving himself time. He spent time with Jay like old times, finding it in him to heal. Jay had gotten Matt to give his contract back to Vince and the world viewed the whole thing as a bad storyline and Edge started wrestling again.. Vickie free. It wasn't long till he indeed started missing Randy. Randy was more than happy to take him back and for awhile they were very happy.

Matt was maybe quieter after Anger Management. Disappointed Adam didn't want to see him, but gave him space. Jeff was still relieved, he regretted too much sticking up for his brother and making excuses and pandering for him. He stayed with Matt because after all this was the main point that sealed him losing Adam. But Jeff had gotten so much colder and Matt felt it and could understand why. He regretted everything. He'd been a monster and then tried to wrongfully justify his cruel actions. He could never take it all back. In the process he'd damaged his brother and Adam.

To make some shitty amends, Matt turned Edge's contract back over to Vince upon Jay's requested demand, freeing Adam from the Hardy's employment.

Matt lay with Jeff's painted fingernails digging in his scalp and a tattooed hand holding his head against the pillow as Jeff thrust down into him. Somewhere Jeff had gotten sick of being a bitch. It was no wonder, it had cost him greatly.

It was taking Jeff time to finish this time. He tried to imagine it was Adam he was sliding in and out of. Adam under him. His Addy. But Matt didn't feel like Adam. He didn't feel like Adam at all.

Jeff didn't see Adam much. Once they passed each other in the hallways and locked eyes.. and for a split second the world was slow motion. Everything him and Adam had ever been through flashed before his eyes in an instant like it was all on fast forward. Jeff hoped Adam would feel the same soaring in his chest that Jeff did.. but there was no wind blowing from nowhere, no sappy 80's music playing. This wasn't a movie and Adam just turned his head and walked on by and another piece of Jeff shattered.

Jeff soon told his brother he was leaving WWE. He couldn't take it.

-xx-

A few years had since passed. Edge had to retire in April 2011 due to his neck injuries and took time off. He had since redeemed himself with fans and superstars alike, his attitude changed and he found himself beloved once again. His send off was heart-warming and beautiful. Now here in late 2012 he was waiting in his locker room to start his new role as General Manager of SmackDown. He had put so much of his past behind him through hard work and general consensus not to hold a grudge. Him and Matt had since talked things out, not that it did or did not do any good.

Randy and Adam were still an on and off thing, they took it slow, enjoyed what they had. Jay had found some redheaded diva named Heath Slater and was very happy. Jeff had left for TNA some time back and Matt followed like a lost puppy until Matt just gave up. Jeff decided him and his brother were through in the romantic department.

Adam didn't think much of it as the door behind him opened and he heard footsteps and someone sat down on the wooden bench beside where Adam sat tying his tie. He looked down to see the tattooed hand with the black painted nails beside his leg on the bench and he smiled.

"You start back tonight. Welcome home." The new GM finished the tie.

"Yeah. I guess we all needed time. Uh, Adam.. I know what we've all been through.. but I miss you. You think we could maybe be friends again?"

Adam smiled and laid his hand on top of the one on the bench. "I'd like that, Jeff."

The End.

I don't know if it'll make anyone happy, even myself. Personally, I kinda am happy with the end. I don't think it's exactly Jedam, but says no matter what these two will always find their ways back to each other. I tried to do what was best in the end for this bastard child of a fic that started out as something twisted and fun & developed into a mind of its own with torment and angst. I decided to end it and this is the way it decided to go, I dunno if I could fix their problems, as you can tell I tried. It's probably better this way.. or not. Either way it was a fun ride. I hope everyone had as much fun reading as I did writing it. Edge being GM at the end was just personal fantasy. (shrugs) Thank you to everyone who reviewed/faved/alerted/read. If I disappointed, I'm sorry. This story has meant so much to me. It shows a change in characters, a growth in characters as well as the writer myself and has brought me so far since chapter one. I do not regret a single ounce of hard work or time spent on this fic. It was all worth it.