Thanks for the reviews. Before I go any further, I must say that Fast and Furious was the greatest movie I've seen in years. Very creative and action-packed. Although I'm saddened about the loss of my favorite character, Dom Toretto picked up the slack! What a beautiful man he is. If you haven't seen it, you better get moving!

Chapter 21

(Vince)

I nursed my beer closer as I slouched in front of the television. Mia, Lisa, and Stacy were upstairs decorating the nursery for the twins. I knew I should have been helping, but anytime I went remotely close to the room, Lisa would give me a tongue lashing. So I decided beer and a Nascar race would settle my anxiousness.

I was bored. I missed work. I hadn't been to the garage in a few days because I had to stay home and take care of Mia. Don't get me wrong, I loved staying home with her. But I hadn't had my hands dirty in days and I was about to lose it. I wanted to get under my car and go to town like usual, but I couldn't.

I stood up to toss my empty Corona bottle and get another one when there was a knock at the door. I looked over at the clock on the wall, which read 10:45. Who would be showing up this late at my house? I grabbed my beer anyways and walked over to the door, looking through the peephole. Green eyes stared back at me, eyes that could only belong to one person I know...

"Leon, what's up brother?" I asked, pulling the door open. Finally, I had one of my boys here that I could actually talk to.

"Not much, dawg," Leon replied, stepping in with a case of Corona. He was smiling, but his eyes seemed distant. "The boys are hanging out with Koy at Dom's house. I need help with something."

"Where's Dom and Rylan?" I asked. I knew she didn't like Dom very well, so they couldn't have went somewhere alone, could they?

"He took her out. Said something about connecting with her, I dunno," he said, flopping down on the sofa. He instantly pulled a long-neck Corona out the case and lit a cigarette.

"Come on Le, you know Mia would kill you if she knew you were smoking in her house. C'mon," I said, leading Leon out the back door. We sat in the patio area, enjoying the cool L.A breeze. "So what's up man?" I asked, chugging down half my beer in one swallow.

"This whole marriage thing, dawg. I don't know if I'm ready for it," Leon's voice was broken. I was shocked at what I was hearing. Leon was pumped about jumping the broom a few weeks ago, and now he had cold feet.

"What do you mean? You love Lisa," I reminded him.

"With everything I have. But marriage is a huge step. I used to have girls walking in and out my bedroom door."

"So what, you wanna go back to that life? Man, you got a good girl. Don't fuck it up Leon!" I didn't mean to yell, but Lisa was a good woman and Leon should be lucky that she would give him the time a day. Lisa wasn't uppity, but she had just the right amount of class. She could hang with the boys, but she was just as girly as Mia. Leon would be an idiot if he screwed it up.

"I know, V! I know, dawg. I'm just scared that I'll do something to mess it up. I know she can do better than me? I mean, what the hell do I have to show for myself? I'm a 39 year old mechanic still street racing like a teenager. A high school drop out and runaway. Hell V, I ain't got shit," Leon poured his heart out, polishing off the rest of his first Corona.

I knew how he felt. I had the same self-pity moments just days before my wedding. The same jittery, anxiety feelings like marrying Mia would be a mistake on her part. Like I wasn't good enough. But it took a few kicks in the ass and seeing her in her wedding dress to let me know that what I was doing was not a mistake, but a miracle.

"Look, brother. You got a good thing with Lisa. She loves you, man. If she didn't want you, she wouldn't be here. Simple as that. You got a lot going for you bro, You have a good job at the garage, you own your own house, you're on the straight and narrow. Plus, you haven't slept with anyone since you met her. Trust me Le, when it comes to you, that's a good thing. Lisa's a lucky woman."

-X-

(No POV)

Lisa, Mia, and Stacy were just putting the finishing touches up on the baby blue paint in the twins' room. They were enthralled in wedding and baby talk, when Stacy heard voices coming from outside. She listened closer, wondering if she could recognize the voices. She moved near the window, seeing Vince and Leon sitting in the patio area, drinking cool beers. Stacy waved a wobbly Mia and Lisa over, managing to crack the window a bit to hear better.

"Nah, V, I'm the lucky one. She chose me. After seeing me drunk off my ass, she could've bounced and I wouldn't have seen her again. But she stayed. She stayed for me, bro," Mia and Lisa awed as Leon gushed about his woman. "I just wish I knew I was sure about this whole thing. Dedicating the rest of my life to someone isn't as easy as it seems," at these words, Lisa ran from the window in tears. Mia tried calling after her, but it was no hope.

Lisa was lying face-first on Mia and Vince's bed. The tears sprang instantly. She knew Leon was too good to be true. The sweet talks, buying her nice things, all over it was for nothing because he wasn't in it for the long haul. He was the one who proposed! He took her to dinner, and to the top of his favorite hill in the desert and proposed to her. He put the three-carat diamond ring on her finger. She never pushed Leon into marriage. She didn't bring it up until after three years of knowing and loving him. Lisa knew Leon's reputation. She knew he was a typical L.A racer who was notorious for the many girls he could have in his bed at a time.

But to her, he seemed different. He was sweet to her. He pulled out her chair, paid for dinner, opened doors … all the clichés and more. So why did he choose now to hurt her?

"Oh Lisa, it's okay babe," Mia soothed, finally making it to the bed. "Maybe we just took that out of context."

"Yeah. Please don't cry," Stacy tried.

"You heard him Mi! He doesn't want this! If he isn't sure by now that he wants me forever, then he'll never know," Mia's eyes watered for her friend. She didn't know what to say to help. Her emotions were on overdrive and she was barely keeping it together herself. "I gotta get out of here. I'll see you later," Lisa jumped out of the bed and gathered up her wedding randoms. She ran down the stairs as quickly as possible, wanting to get out of there unnoticed.

No such luck.

"Leese, where ya going?" Leon's husky voice called from behind her. She had just reached the door was only a few steps away from the one man who hurt her most. She didn't turn around, but she quickly wiped away her tears. "Babe, what's wrong?" his voice was so caring, it only made her heart hurt more.

"Nothing. I'll see you at home," she opened the door, ready to bolt as soon she had leeway.

"You heard, didn't you?" his voice was broken and scared.

She didn't reply, but only nodded. Leon lowered his head, knowing that they had to talk about it now. There was no getting around it.

"I'm sorry Leese. I love you," was all Leon could say. His heart hurt too much for him to form any other coherent words.

"No you don't," Leon winced at the harshness in her voice. "If you loved me, you would be positive that this was what you wanted. And clearly, you aren't," before Leon could stop her, she was gone like that.

Leon felt tears slide down his fuzzy cheeks, but didn't bother to stop them. He didn't even wipe them away when Vince's hand landed on his shoulder.

"How 'bout you stay a while and sober up, then go after her?" Vince offered, leading Leon away from the door and to the couch.

(Letty)

I was cuddled on the sofa of our hotel room, aimlessly flipping through the television channels. It was a little past three A.M, and I knew nothing would be on except infomercials. Robbie was sleeping, heavily snoring just like his father. I couldn't help but smile. I turned back to the idiot box, dozing off after a few minutes. I was almost completely out when a loud ringing came from across the room. What the fuck was that? After the fuzziness wore off, I realized it was the hotel room phone ringing.

"Who the fuck is calling me at this hour?" I mumbled, hurrying to the phone before it woke Robbie. It was bitch trying to get him to sleep. "Who is this?" I asked rudely after picking up.

"I'm sorry for calling this late," the voice on the other weeped heavily, so much that I could barely understand. "It's Dr. Clark."

I instantly perked up. I didn't think she would actually call. I knew how it was if someone tried to help during a domestic violence situation; it never ended well for anyone involved.

"What's going on Doc?" I asked, truly concerned.

"You mind meeting with me somewhere? I need someone to talk to. I have no where else to go," she cried, which broke my heart in two. "If it's too late, it's fine. I can go to the hospital to get away."

"No, honey, it's fine. I wouldn't turn someone away. Especially someone so helpful as you. Why don't you pack a bag and come stay here for a while? We'll sneak you in."

A few sniffles came from the other end, "You mean that? Going to the hospital isn't a problem."

"Honey, that'll be the first place he looks for you. Come here," I was surprised how strong and useful I was being for her.

After giving her the room number, we hung up. I quickly dressed and tidied up the hotel room. Robbie was on a sugar-high and turned into the Tasmanian Devil and turned this room into a play pin. I grabbed my smokes and the key to the room and snuck out silently.

Ten minutes later, I was sitting outside the hotel, lighting up my second cigarette. It was a bad habit that I had picked up after Robbie was born. I ignored the health issues and nasty taste because it killed my nerves. I knew I had to help this doctor. Maybe if someone had been there to save me, I wouldn't have gone through what I did. I shivered in the night as a black BMW pulled up outside the hotel. I promptly noticed that it was Dr. Clark and I put my smoke out. I watched as she carried an overnight bag on her shoulders.

She didn't look like the same gorgeous woman I had met a week ago. The bruise around her eye was darker, and her bottom lip was split right down the middle. Her expression was exhausted, but her eyes said that she was relieved. I shivered in the New York weather as she approached.

"I'm sorry that I had to get you involved, especially at this hour," she said, her voice shaky.

"Don't apologize. Let's get you coffee."

We went into the hotel and walked to the lobby, which always kept fresh coffee and donuts, regardless of the hour. After filling two Styrofoam cups with coffee, we hopped on the nearest elevator. A few minutes later, we were back at my room, where Robbie was still sleeping soundly on the bed. We settled on the sofa and I gave her a chance to relax until I started questioning her.

"So what happened?" I stated, not beating around the bush.

Denise hesitated for a moment. "I got in a fight with my boyfriend. Bet you couldn't already tell that, huh?" she joked dryly.

A small smile curled at my lips, "What happened?"

"I just got off work around midnight and he was still awake, drinking with his cop buddies. "

"He's a cop?!" I asked, stunned. I knew cops were pigs, but I thought they had more integrity then that.

"Yeah, can you believe it? Yeah, he used to be stationed in L.A, but something went down and he came here," she waved her hands, unsure of the situation, "Anyways. I told him to excuse his company because it was late and he had to work in the morning. Of course, men don't like to be one-upped in front of their friends. So he threw a fit. The guys left and I went to take a shower. Before I could step one foot out the tub, he was on me. Thankfully, he was too drunk to do any real damage. He passed out about an hour ago, that's when I called you."

I felt for the doc. I knew how it was to be tortured by the man you love and be unable to do anything about it because of his occupation. Ain't no way she's gonna get help with her boyfriend being a cop. It's his word against hers.

"You know, I was going through the same thing with Ryan," she looked at me with surprise. "He used to beat the piss out of me daily for the last seven or eight years. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. My oldest daughter got a few cars and we left him about two weeks ago," I relived the horrific memories that flashed through my head. My temper flared up.

"So is that why he...?" she trailed off, not wanting to mention the suicide attempt. I nodded, sipping my coffee. We sat in silence for a while, enjoying our drinks. A million thoughts raced through my head. I wanted to help the doctor but I wasn't sure how. Then it came to me.

"Do you want out? I mean, away from him?"

Her eyes were sad, but her answer was firm, "Hell yes."

"Can you transfer? You know, like work at a different hospital?"

She was confused, "Yeah. I'll need a referral and it'll take a few days to get my things faxed down. Why? What have you got in mind?"

"Wanna go to Los Angeles?" I asked with a smirk.

Denise thought about it for a moment. I thought she would turn the offer down, and I felt bad. But when a bright, cheeky smile came upon her face, I knew she had decided.

"How soon can we leave?"

Sorry so short and crappy, but I'm getting a little lost. I know exactly where I want to be with this, but can't figure out how to get there. Also, I'll be bringing in another character, and some of you might not like what I'll do with them, but I like to try new things. The next chapter will be up soon. Please R&R!