'Act natural, act natural!' A young brunette of only about 5'1" in height told herself repeatedly in her mind as she waited with two people who she had spent most of her life around, all three of them glad to be in the air conditioned building and out of the oppressive summer heat.

Maria Vercetti had fled Liberty City 2 years ago to get away from her drug addicted mother and abusive stepfather, had gotten mixed up with some crazy characters in that time frame, two of whom were the Vance brothers.

As of late, she had been avoiding Lance because one drunken night led to it being a heated night of passion between her and Lance while the two and Vic were on a deal in Cartagena, Colombia a week ago, it had left Maria unsure about her real feelings for Lance… and she wanted some time away to figure them out.

Then she had gotten a phone call from Sonny Forelli that Tommy was being released from prison and sent down to Vice City… yeah, being back here made Maria nervous, remembering that Louise's brother Phil Cassidy was still here. She had no ill feelings towards him, he just freaked her out at times.

Now it was just a waiting game, she was about to see Tommy for the first time without a prison window separating them… and as she pulled her light brown curly hair into a ponytail, she was going over the plan again.

Maria's P.O.V

Readjusting my white halter top with red polkadots on it and red high waisted shorts, I wait nervously in the Escobar International Airport, Lee resting his hand on my right shoulder.

"Easy, kiddo. He'll be here." Lee says.

"Lee's right, Mini Marilyn. Relax." Harry says. I've grown to like that nickname, Mini Marilyn. I love the way she dressed up, especially in The Asphalt Jungle and The Seven Year Itch.

Damn it, don't get distracted!

Okay… plan sounds simple enough. We all go down to the Vice City docks, trade the money for the cocaine and everyone walks away. Selling the stuff shouldn't be hard, right?! It's the 1980s, everyone's into some form of drug or another!

"Well, damn… Sonny said you had grown up but I didn't expect this." I hear a male voice say in a joking tone and turn…

"Tommy!" I scream excitedly, the two of us hugging tightly and Tommy picking me up off of the ground.

"Oh, Maria, I missed you so damn much… it feels good to hug you again, kiddo." Tommy says after lowering me to the ground and the two of us letting go.

"It feels good to hug you again too, Tommy…" I say, trying not to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. I can't remember the last time I actually hugged Tommy, I'm too young to remember.

The four of us exited the airport and meet up with Ken Rosenberg, getting into his Admiral, Harry up front and me squeezed between Tommy and Lee as Ken talked on and on about Vic and Lance.

I glanced out the window as the setting sun and sky casted an orange, red and pink glow over the city… it's beautiful, it should be reassuring.

So why isn't it?

Tommy's P.O.V, A half hour later...

"Ria, you and Ken said these two would be here! Where are they?!" Harry grumbled impatiently as the five of us waited at the docks.

"Hey, don't mouth off to my kid sister, Harry!" I snap at him, keeping Maria close to me protectively as Harry went quiet… and then we heard the familiar engine of a chopper as it lowered to the pavement.

"Okay, that's them in the chopper." Ken says after all of us get out of the car, close the doors and approach the two. The slightly shorter one brings over two metal cases as Harry and Lee hung onto the metal cases with the money in it and the taller one and Maria smile at each other, although it's a little awkward on her part… something tells me that these two got closer than intended and she's not sure how she feels.

"Got it?" I ask the first guy, who introduces himself as Vic.

"100% pure grade A Colombian, my friend. The greens?" Vic says, Harry and Lee opening the cases.

"Tens and twenties, used." I say, Vic smiling.

"I think we have a deal, my friend!" Vic says enthusiastically… and that's where it all goes straight to hell.

Gunfire erupts, me grabbing Maria and the two of us running towards the Admiral as Harry, Lee and Vic fall dead and the helicopter takes off with the second guy in the pilot seat as I frantically shove a screaming Maria into the car… she's screaming out in horror for the three that were just shot to death, she also keeps screaming "Victor!" and trying to run to him… but it's too late, I'm not losing her as well.

"Go on, get out of here, drive!" I yell at Ken once we were all in the car, Ken speeding off.

"No! Damn it, no!" Maria screamed, pounding on the back windshield as I tried to calm her down.

"I'm sorry, kiddo… they're gone…" I say after pulling her into my lap, holding her in my arms as she rested her head on my left shoulder, tears streaming down her face.

Here we are in a beautiful city, two of my oldest friends gone, one of her friends gone, the other fleeing in a chopper with no choice but to leave his dead brother behind, the drugs and money also left behind… and when Sonny Forelli hears about this, he's only gonna care about the money, not the fact that the deal was an ambush and two of his most loyal hitmen are dead.

So much for paradise, huh?