A/N : God, I'm so sorry people, i know i promised to update sooner by writers block got a hold on me and wouldn't let go, well, heres the next chapter, hope you enjoy.

Chapter 9

I woke up the next morning and slowly got dressed. Leon and i had gotten home when Vince did so we told him as we walked into the house. I got dressed, wearing shorts a wife beater and an over shirt, and brushed my hair, putting it up into a semi messy bun. I walked downstairs, noticing that i was the only one up, i decided to go for a drive. I quietly went back to my room, passing Jesse's room and stopped in his door way before moving to walk into my room. I slipped on my socks and hiking boots and quietly left the house.

I sighed and let out a breath as i pulled up to the beach and got out, walking towards the water and sitting down, loving the quiet. It was still early so no one was really there except for the surfers. I closed my eyes and listened to the waves silently.

I'd been there for about an hour when I heard a voice ask, "Anna? What are you doing here?" I quickly turned my head and looked up seeing Brian.

"Don't sneak up on people like. Unless you wanna give them a heart attack." I said turning back to the water. "Always took you to be the surfer boy type."I stated seeing his wet suit.

He laughed a bit then sat down, "So you never answered my question."

"Thinking. Mostly."

"About?"

I sighed and looked at him for a minute, "Me and Leon. Jesse. Dom and Mia. Letty and Maya. V, you... a little bit of everything and everybody. Mostly Jesse since he's in the hospital and ..."

"Woah, Jesse's in the hospital? He was fine last night."

"Yeah, when i got home me and Leon... talked, sorta anyway. Then we heard Letty calling us and we went up stairs and Jesse was on the floor unconscious. Turns out, he wasn't getting enough air because he'd had a really severe asthma attack and he also has bronchitis. So, he's gonna be in the hospital a few days."

"Why didn't anyone call me or something? I would have come down." Brian said, looking at me.

"I know, we weren't thinking at the time to be honest. We were so worried about Jesse..."

"I understand, I'll go see him later today."

I nodded and told him what hospital and room number, "Just say your his brother. They should believe you."

Brian nodded, "So what actually happened between you and Leon."

"Lord." I laughed a bit, "We kissed. And you know i don't entirely know if it's because of what we learned or if it's feelings... I don't know."

"I think he still loves you. I know you still love him."

"Yeah but it's Leon. You know, hella racer, skirt chaser."

"Til you two got together. He never did any of that. I remember that much."

"I know, but um, can i ask you something?"

"You know you can." Brian said, giving a quiet laugh.

"You wanna have lunch with me today? I mean, i could take you to see Jesse, then we could eat something. Leon and Vince have to get parts for Jesse's car that we're building. Letty and Maya are going to a birthday party at the day care and I'll be home by myself and i don't like it. So..." I trailed off, shrugging a bit.

"Sure, should i bring someone with me so Leon and Vince won't get mad?"

"Yeah, might be wise." I said nodding and standing up, dusting the sand off my butt.

"Okay, I'll bring Suki. They won't get too mad then." Brian said standing up too as i nodded as we walked towards my car.

"Well, see you one thirty." I said, then got into the car and drove off.

I pulled up to a house and got out, sighing slightly. I slowly went up the steps and knocked on the door. The door opened and there stood a shocked woman. "We need to talk." I said as i walked inside, pushing past her, her skin slightly darker than mine, she's half Italian.

"What are you doing here?" The woman asked, pulling her brown hair back, her brown eyes piercing at my back a i walked in.

"Look, you can hide from everyone else all you want, but sooner or later, they will find out."

"You're not gonna tell them are you? If they find out..."

"I know what will happen if they find out, they'll go ballistic that i knew about it all the whole time." I said and sat down on the couch.

"Ballistic won't even be the word, you know how Leon and Vince are, and Letty, mad won't even be the word, she'll kill him, then me, then you for not telling her that you knew." She said, her voice soft.

"I know Katlin. Chris has been suspicious, been asking questions. Why you hardly show up for work, why i haven't fired you yet. I'm getting a lot of heat from a bartender." I said, shaking my head. (Thought it was Mia huh? Lol)

"I wish i could tell but i can't, he'll kill me." She said quietly.

"Look sugar. The way i see it you got two options. One, you stay with this punk, get beat everyday for no reason, lose your job, your friends. Everything. Or two, me and the others can help you get out of here. Find an apartment within your price range, get a restraining order put against him, and get you back to normal. It's your choice. You have to be at work tonight. Think about it and get back to me." I said, standing up, hugging her slightly before walking out of the house and to my car, turning back to the house slightly before getting in and pulling out, leaving a few minute before her boyfriend got home.

I drove home, after stopping to get breakfast, and got out, slowly going inside. "Morning." I said to the four sitting in the living room.

"Where've you been?" Letty asked, looking at her.

"Went to the beach to think. Got food too." I said, then quickly held out the food as Leon and Vince rushed over. "Good thing i have two bags huh?" I said as Letty smiled as we walked into the kitchen.

"So, Anna, you're gonna have the house to yourself for a while today, what're gonna do?"

"Um, I'm gonna have lunch with Brian and Suki. After i take him to see Jesse." I said, quietly, though i know they heard me.

"Hmm, have fun." Was all that was said by Leon on the subject and the matter was dropped, for now.

( I know, i keep skipping, sorry)

Around one-twenty i pulled up to the garage and got out, still waring the same thing, like I'm gonna change, ain't no one that special. Well, with a few exceptions.

"You're early." Brian said, smiling a bit.

"And you're dirty." I said laughing, seeing the oil stains on his jeans and tee.

"Oh, you know you want some of that." Rome said from the back.

"Uh, no sorry, i don't go for pretty boys." I said, looking over Brian's shoulder.

"Oh, that hurts." Brian said, as he wiped his hands. "I'll go change and get cleaned up then we'll go, should be done by then." He said then walked off. He came back a few minutes later, his hair still damp.

"Ready pretty boy?" I asked jokingly as Suki walked up laughing.

"He is kinda pretty ain't he?" She asked, looking him over a bit as we walked to the car.

"Great, two against one." Brian mumbled as he got into the backseat of the car.

We went to see Jesse then went to lunch, which was pretty calm. We talked, mostly about me and the rest for Suki's entertainment only. A week later Jesse was able to come home, which he was happy about. And everyone else was happy too. We invited everyone for a barbecue, including Brian who brought Tej, Rome, Jimmy and Suki. Katlin came too. Thought she wasn't alone, she was with her boyfriend Fred. The jerk off i wanted to kill, but wouldn't. Vince didn't hit Brian, which was surprising really. Because he did kinda say that he would when he saw him again. Leon and I haven't had our talk yet and when we tried, it ended up leading to something it shouldn't have, thank God no one was home. And we haven't talked since then, it was too weird at the moment, though i knew we had to talk sooner or later, and obviously it was going to be sooner because we were once again left alone. Everyone either leaving to go home or to their rooms. Which they'd been doing a lot lately.

"What are we doing Anna?" Leon finally asked.

I shook my head, "I have no idea. I don't know what it meant, why... I'm confused."

"Me too. But, i just need to ask the question i know we're both thinking. Was it because of everything or was it more? Personally, I'd like more."

"I'd like more again too, but Leon, it didn't work before, why now?"

"Because, things are different now. Vince doesn't need the physical therapy, Let isn't pregnant anymore. Sure Jesse still needs some watching but he doesn't have nightmares anymore. What we had was good, why can't we have it back?"

"Because, nothings can go back to the way it was." I said, then watched a Leon looked down, about to stand up, thinking i was turning him down. "But, nothings to say we can't start over. You know, you can never go back, but you can go forward." I said, them smiled when he did.

"I'd like that." He said, smiling before leaning over and kissing me.

That conversation had been two and a half months ago. We were going slow, and that's was all fine with us. Jesse, Vince and Letty were happy about it, so was Brian. Rome, Tej, Jimmy and Suki didn't really know our relationship well but they were happy too. We'd gotten close to them over the past couple of months and they came over for dinner most nights. Katlin had finally left Fred and is now dating Chris, the bartender. Ironic no? And they were coming to Maya's second birthday, which was today, so Letty, Leon, Vince, Jimmy and Suki were busy setting up, while Jesse, Tej, Brian, Rome, and I took Maya out for a while, not like she really understood her birthday parties yet but we celebrated each one with gusto, just because we could. Katlin and Chris wouldn't be there til later.

When the others and i pulled up to the house, we saw an unrecognizable car parked in front of the house. We got out and Jesse handed Maya to me as Tej and Rome got out of his truck. Jesse and Brian had rode with me and Maya.

As we walked up to the house, we heard arguing.

Confused, i handed Maya to Brian and opened the door, picking up the bags we had. "What in the world is..." I trailed off, dropping the bags i had onto the floor. "My God." I mumbled as the two people in the living room turned around.

"Hi Anna." Said the gruff voice I haven't heard for two years.

"Hey Anna." said the female beside him, a small smile gracing her face.

I looked at Letty, Leon, Vince and Jesse. My eyes focusing on Jesse, who was staring open mouthed, before going to Letty who looked hurt and angry, then to Leon who looked ready to kill and Vince, who looked like he wanted to maim and stuff the guy then hang him on the wall with pride. I looked at everyone else before i finally said something.

"Dom, Mia." Was all i said, glaring slightly.

Welp, hope you all like this chappie too, again sorry i haven't updated in a while. How'd you like my little cliffy? Anyone angry? And again, sorry i jumped ahead but as you can see the end result and why i did it