Maria smiled at the sounds coming from her living room, it was something that warmed her heart. She set the front burner of the stove to simmer and went to stand in the doorway between her living room and the kitchen. Crossing her arms Maria watched the scene unfold. Danny was screaming at the television set while his girlfriend flipped through a magazine occasionally looking up and laughing at him as he tried with no success to beat the video game he was playing. She caught sight of Maria and smiled for a moment before she lifted her lithe body from the sofa and walked over to her.

Alice, a red haired beauty who had always been Maria's friend, from the very moment they had met Alice had been in her life. She grabbed Maria's arm and drug her into the kitchen sniffing at the air and lifting the lids to all the pots that were simmering on the stove.

So, Alice started eying her with glittering green eyes, "I think we need to find you a boy toy." Her tone was completely serious so Maria had to hold back her laughter at her vocabulary.

"I'm perfectly fine how I am, Ally." Maria stated using her friends childhood nickname and making herself busy at the sink peeling potatoes. She deliberately hid her face from her friend.

Alice snorted, something that was very unladylike and leaned against the counter, "Really Maria, how long has it been?"

"Since what? I had sex or had a boyfriend?"

Alice let out a shriek of a laugh, "Maria! I'm serious! When was the last time you got down?"

Maria had to think about that for a moment, but in the end she really couldn't remember, and that, she decided, was really sad.

When she didn't answer Alice sighed, That long huh? She didn't wait for an answer before she marched across the kitchen and grabbed Maria by the hand and drug her into the living room.

"Danny! This girl needs to get laid." Alice announced at which Maria gasped and yanked her hand from Alice's surprisingly strong grip.

"Alice!"

Danny threw down his controller and stared at the two woman," Really Ally, do you have to be like that? I don't need to know my sisters needs and wants." He stared at his twin, who was a rather pretty girl. Like him she had light blond hair, and intense blue eyes. She was built like an Amazon however, tall, muscular and able to kick any mans ass that crossed her. Though, Danny couldn't decide if that was because she was born that way or because she was a cop, either way, his sister Maria was one bad ass chick.

Maria looked just as uncomfortable as Danny felt but Alice was relentless, and Lord knew that he loved her for it.

"You want to know why Maria cant land a man?" Alice stated as she plopped down on the sofa, "Its because no one measures up." She nodded as if she agreed with herself, "No one is tough enough, or smart enough or whatever." Her eyes focused on the television set and she smiled, "I think she needs a guy like him." She pointed at the game that was still playing.

Danny's bright eyes followed his girlfriends finger and when he saw what she was pointing out he snorted a laugh, "Vincent Valentine? Sweetie you do realize that hes not real."

Alice gave him a look that said he wasn't getting lucky that night, "I know that Daniel." She snapped, "I'm just saying that she needs a guy like that."

Maria smiled slightly, I wish, she thought. She winked and headed back into the kitchen to finish up the meal she was preparing, she thought that Alice was going to follow her back into the steamy kitchen but when she heard giggles from the other room she smiled to herself, Alice had the strangest t ideas at times.

She pulled the cake that she had been baking for said strange friend out of the oven and set it aside to cool. If only she had a man that was able to take care of himself, but sadly, Alice was right not many men met Maria's standards.

The evening went smoothly, Alice made a fuss about blowing out her candles but in the end Maria won over. It was late when Danny and her left, and Maria hugged her friend, wishing her a happy birthday one last time and waved a goodbye from her doorway to her brother telling him shed see him soon.

Maria closed her front door softly wishing for once that she had someone to keep her company in her big house. It wasn't that she didn't like being on her own, but every now and again, Maria felt like she worked too much and for what? She had no family other then her brother, and no companion, other then her cat Moe. Turning from the door she slowly made her way into the kitchen to clean up the mess that she had made while cooking. She was almost to the door when she heard a noise coming from the living room, thinking it was Moe until he rubbed against her leg.

Frowning Maria looked down at her large tabby, and then toward the living room. She reached for her pistol that was in its holster which hung by the front door and tip toed through her house. She rounded the corner slowly, making little noise and froze as she caught sight of a tall figure standing in the middle of her living room.

"Freeze." She said firmly while she raised her gun at the man.

The man had his back to her, she was sure he was a man despite his long dark hair, for his very broad shoulders and stance. He was tall, taller then her 57 frame, Maria judged him to be at least six foot. He wore what looked to be a red cloak, and when he turned Maria saw that if covered the lower half of his face, but when she did see made her gasp slightly. Crimson eyes peered at her from under that jet black hair, a red bandanna was wrapped around his forehead she noted.

"What are you doing in my house?" She questioned her tone holding a note of surprise.

The man faced her fully and Maria rose her gun further noting the steel claw that adorned his left hand and the pistol that hung at his side.

"I do not know." His voice was deep and a little rough.

"Who are you?" Maria questioned, thinking that he looked at little too familiar.

"My name is Vincent Valentine."

OOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO like you didnt see that coming. Haha. Please read and review.