Title: The Lie Behind His Eyes

Author: NeroAnne

Disclaimer: I do not own the wrestlers in this fic. Nor, will I ever.

Summary: Jeff likes to let everyone think that he's happy being alone. He claims that love isn't real. What if it were all a lie though? Caused by years of hidden abuse? And what if the only one who can see it…is the one who "hates" him the most? SLASH.

Note: These are memories. –These- are flashbacks.

{T.L.B.H.E.}

-Christmas Bash; Some Months Later-

"Jeff, your dog is sitting on me again!" John screeched from the living room, trying to shove the young male boxer off his lap.

Jeff grinned from the kitchen, helping Matt finish up the floor. "Bear, come in here!" he heard the soft pitter-patter of Bear's paws leading him into the kitchen and he smiled, bending over rub Bear's brown ears. "Where's your buddy?"

Bear's docked white tail wagged. He lapped at Jeff's palm.

"Matty," Jeff turned to his brother, who was tearing as he chopped onions. "Have you seen Caspian?"

Matt sniffed, his arms twitching as he fought not to rub his burning eyes. "No," he shoved the onions into Jeff's hands, whimpering, "I give up! You do these little torture devices and I'll kill the tomato's."

Jeff smirked, finishing off the onions, "Baby."

"This baby changed your diapers," Matt reminded him, washing his hands thoroughly before bringing handfuls of cold water to his face.

Jeff smiled, shaking his head.

The brother's continued their work until the doorbell sounded. Immediately, Bear began to howl and sniff at the door, tail wagging furiously.

"Coming," Jeff sang merrily before propping open the door. He tilted his head.

He couldn't see the olive eyes, because of the silky black hair matted down wetly to the man's forehead, but he knew who it was.

Jeff's eyes moved lower, to the ravenette's arms, where a German shepherd mix pup was being held by the scruff of its neck, also thoroughly wet.

"Your sewer rat was jumping around in the lake. You're damn lucky he didn't catch hypothermia."

Jeff brought his hand up to silence his laughter, "You're one to talk about a sewer rat…"

Phil brought up his other hand, shoving the wet black locks away from his face, "Just get the damn dog out of my hands so I could go upstairs and shower."

Jeff twitched, "What makes you think you're walking into my house dripping wet like that?"

Phil smirked and shoved Caspian into his owners arms before waltzing inside, dragging water on the carpet. "I saved your life, didn't I? The least you could do to repay me is let me get in a shower."

Jeff growled, "Oh sure, throw that back into my face, why don't you?" he smiled though. He really did owe a lot to Phil.

He stumbled backwards when the other man's heavily soaked shirt hit him in the face. "Oomph!" he tripped over the rug and ended up on his back. He dragged the heavy material off his face. "You asshole!"

Phil's laughter from upstairs caused Jeff's teeth to gnash.

Phil was still so fucking annoying…

{T.L.B.H.E.}

Trish was staring at him too hard.

It finally got irritating after the first twelve minutes.

"Is there something on my face, blondie?" Jeff asked, seeing the brown eyes blink at him. He grinned.

"What? Oh, no!" Trish smiled, "I was just wondering why you were still single."

"Can we not talk about this?" Phil asked randomly, buttering up his biscuit, "I just started eating."

Jeff smiled, his chin resting on his palm.

Trish gave Phil a look, disturbed by his rudeness.

It actually wasn't rudeness, though…

Phil didn't want to think about Mordetzky at a time like this…when things were supposed to be happy…Christmas time.

Jeff wasn't too fond of the idea, either.

Trish had no clue what had happened though, so now she was glaring at Phil with such hate. It was so scary.

"I wasn't talking to you, dick." Trish hissed.

Phil's face contorted with shock before he snorted, ignoring Matt's loud laugh. He and Jeff locked eyes and he shrugged weakly, giving the red/green haired man a soft grin.

Jeff grinned back, left eye winking at him before turning back to Trish.

"You know my philosophy, Trish," Jeff told her, picking up his fork. He swallowed down some mashed potatoes, "I don't believe in love."

Matt and John shared a glance before turning to pointedly stare at Phil, whose cheeks reddened a bit.

Eve noticed and she quickly put two and two together. She beamed, happily munching on her food.

Phil liked Jeff.

Caspian and Bear were playing around with Lucas and Eve's cat, Monty. The white furball was jumping onto Bear's face, nibbling at his nose.

"Come on, Jeff, its Christmas. I'm sure Santa has a boyfriend for you somewhere here or…there." John said, smiling sweetly.

Matt pinched his boyfriend's knee from under the table as he sipped his drink.

John swallowed a yelp and nervously shrank back at the glares the two ravenette's were giving him.

Phil shook his head, staring up at the ceiling. He had to get Jeff when no one was around. It'd make for fewer interruptions, less noise and less John and Eve squealing.

"That's cute; John, but I don't think so. Santa wouldn't really give me a boyfriend…not the one I'd like, anyway." Thoughts of Chris swirled through his mind and he found himself wondering about how he was doing.

"Oh, so there is someone you want! Tell me!" Trish demanded.

Jeff stuck his tongue out, "No."

Trish pouted, "But Jeeeff, I wanna help!"

"If I decide to act on it, which is a real big if, then maybe it'll happen," Jeff said calmly. He smirked at them all, "After all, I am Cupid."

{T.L.B.H.E.}

After dinner, Randy, Cody, John Cena and Ted came over for the aftermath of the night. "This is so stupid," Randy yawned, watching Cody flail his arms around.

They were playing charades, and Cody was not playing very well.

"I'm a monkey!" Cody whined, "See how I'm moving my arms?!"

Nice.

Jeff was nearly asleep on his side of the couch. His eyes were drooping, his vision set on the fireplace. The flames danced a bit and his lashes moved to close over his eyes completely.

'Even after everything…even after all the pain…after all the humiliation…I hope you're having a happy Christmas…'

"Jeff!"

His eyes snapped open. He flushed, all eyes were on him.

"Yes?" he asked meekly.

"It's your turn to pick!" Trish informed him, grinning widely. Cena's cap was in her hand, little papers inside it.

Jeff rolled his eyes and reached in, grabbing out a paper.

Pretend to be the guy you like.

Oh, that just wasn't fair.

"…I have to pee." Jeff announced loudly as he stood up.

Matt kicked him in the ass with his heel as he walked by. "You don't announce shit like that, Jeff. It's rude."

"Biiite meee," Jeff sang as he rushed upstairs.

He was almost to his bathroom door when he heard a cough. He turned around, smiling when he saw Phil.

"Need something?" Jeff chirped.

"…" Phil nervously bit at his lip ring, glanced up for a few seconds, before sighing. "Might as well do it now before I lose what little nerve I have."

Jeff's eyes whined in confusion. "Do wha-"

A set of warm lips covered his mouth, firmly yet gently.

Jeff flushed when Phil pulled back, equally red.

They stared at each other awkwardly.

Phil smiled shyly and pointed up at something above Jeff's head.

Jeff looked up.

Mistletoe…

He blinked, not knowing how that got there…

"I hope you get that boyfriend you want," Phil whispered, "and I hope you try to love him even if you don't believe in that emotion."

"…What do I do now that I know he wants me back?" Jeff asked softly, watching the light shine in Phil's eyes.

"You may want to try giving love a second chance…" Phil murmured. "He'd really appreciate it if you did."

"Would he?" Jeff asked playfully, pressing their foreheads together.

"Absolutely," Phil whispered, smiling.

"I guess I did end up hitting you with my arrow after all…"

Phil rolled his eyes but smiled, pressing his mouth to Jeff's again.

Their arms wrapped around each other, holding each other close.

Sometimes it's amazing how love is born in the worst of circumstances…

You can't help it, though.

Even if you don't believe in love,

Cupid always finds a way.

No matter whom you are, no matter what façade you put up…

Love will always reveal the lies behind a person's eyes.

~Fin~

{T.L.B.H.E.}

There you have it…

Another fic of mine, all wrapped up.

Thanks so much for all the favorite alerts, author alerts, story alerts, reviews, PM's, love, everything.

Special love to Kamryn, who kept this fic close to her at all times.

Much love to everyone who hung in there through another one of my works.

Your appreciation has and will always, mean everything.

XD.