Heylo! Well, I'm putting the shoutouts on the bottom this time, cause I want to do individual ones... Hope you enjoy, we are getting closer and closer, lol! This one isn't as long, but oh well, the next chapter should be out tomorrow, if not tonight. Lylas!

5 Weeks Later

"Johnny, you gotta stop doin' this to yourself." Penny's serene voice drifted across the bistro table in the sunlit room and into Johnny's senses. He looked up and cleared his throat, surprised. How had their conversation gone from Penny's youngest daughter, Gabriella, to him?

"What're ya talking about Penny? I'm fine," he replied forcing a phony smile. Penny frowned, and Johnny knew the look that crept into her eyes. He had been too close to this woman for too long not to know that look. A surplus of air rushed from his lungs as his hand fell to the table.

"Leave it be, Penny." Penny would have laughed had she not caught the defeated air about him. He should know her much better than that.

"I will not leave it be Johnny. You gotta let someone in sometime, hmm?" Reaching over the table, Penny placed her hand on top of Johnny's and her vibrant green eyes rose to meet his dark and clouded blue ones.

"I know that it's been hard for you since—," she faltered and swallowed deeply. That summer had changed the life of every person involved. "—leaving her, but you gotta move on," she strained, attempting to emphasize her point. The cloud in Johnny's eyes grew deeper, brilliant, light blue darkening with a deep, piercing pain.

"You need to move on. Settle down, start a family. Make a life for yourself. You can't keep livin' in the past…"

"What do you know about the past!" he thundered suddenly. His voice became harsh and withdrawn. Penny was not moved. She had known this man for too long to be disturbed by his more volatile side. Brushing her platinum blonde hair behind her ears, she stared at him condemningly. Men were so obstinate sometimes.

"I know a lot about your past, Johnathan. I know when you were happiest. I was there the day that you found your hope, and I was there the day that you lost it." Leaning forward, Penny began to whisper severely, her breath blowing the starched linen.

"I know that the happiest I'd ever seen you was when you danced up on that stage with Baby Houseman. I know that after you were never the same person. And god help me, but I had never seen you so happy in nine years as that first week after you met that girl again. I don't know what happened between you. I don't know what she did...or you did," At this Johnny looked up and glowered, ready to protest, but Penny's voice silenced him again.

"I'll admit that I don't know a lotta details about what happened nearly a month ago. But dammit, I'm a woman, and I know what I see when I see it! You can't deny yourself the only thing you every truly loved…don't let vanity get in the way of happiness, Johnny. Your happiness." Johnny's gaze spelled weary defeat. Fine, if she wanted to be blunt about it, he could be blunt.

"She had kids Penny." Penny's pretense was written with skepticism.

"It's been nine years Johnny, children is just not somethin' you hold aga—"

"They were my kids, Penny." She was finally silenced. It didn't seem like Baby to do something like that, but Penny wouldn't deny the reality in Johnny's eyes. So, that was what had pushed them apart in the end. Well, that would just have to be remedied.

"Then you belong together."

"What? Penny, you have no idea what you're buttin' into here. What right do you—"

"I have every right in the world." Penny sat back in her chair and fixed Johnny with the look that he called her "All-knowing".

"I knew you before you were younger than Gabby, Johnathan Castle. You were the first person I ever cared about and the first person who ever cared about me, and after all those years of you whippin' me into shape over things that deserved none and all of my time, it's my turn. As your friend, there is no way in hell that I am letting your self-centered, bigheaded, pompous ass of a man ruin what was the best thing in your life."

Johnny let out a breath in desperation. She just didn't understand!

"Penny, it don't matter what I feel! She made it clear and plain that she didn't want nothin' else to do with me."

"Don't tell me that Johnny Castle is gonna give up on somethin' because he ran into a little door? Believe me, that woman loves you. She's just waitin' on you to fight for her."

"But—"

"Nope." Penny shook her head gently. "I gotta go; I got a class at one downtown." Placing a five dollar bill on the table, she retrieved her bag and stood up lithely. "Think about it Johnny. Do you really want her to be the one that got away?"

Johnny quickly rushed from the restaurant, his mind racing with thoughts of what Penny had said; thoughts that centered around her. Baby. No, not just Baby, his Baby. He lunged into the traffic on Main Street and wondered to the local coffeehouse. Taking a seat, he mused over the dilemma he know found himself in. Was Penny right? Was this something he would regret forever?

Did Baby even want him anymore? She certainly hadn't replied to any of his letters and the note she had left was very brash. Every conceivable turn told him no, but then why after she had rid herself of him, had she come running back? He didn't have to know about the children; in fact, they succeeded only in making things invariably more complicated. So why? The question haunted him.

A familiar voice from behind caught his attention.

Turning, he watched as the blonde man he had seen at her parents' party and a pretty young redhead took a seat, holding hands. Hadn't Baby said—? This man was her boyfriend! Obviously not anymore. Either that or he was cheating. Secretly, Johnny hoped for the former.

Hegrumbled in frustration. Why did he care?

Because he loved her. The simplicity of it all was astounding to him. There was no other reason. Johnny knew that he had and would fight for that love. He had fought Max Kellerman, he had fought her father, and he had fought the world.

The one person he seemed unwilling to fight was Baby herself. Now it had come down to that. But as surely as he knew he loved her, he knew he could not live without her. She had become a part of him, as integral as an appendage that was vital to survive. No matter the lies, no matter the pain or the anger, he knew the only answer to the problem had been waiting for him discover it.

Now it was waiting for his reply.

Shout-outs!

Gaby: OMGoodness girl, that is soo cool! I am 1/4 French myself (my Grandmother is full-blooded from Nancy) and have all kinds of relatives over there! I am learning to speak the language, (I can do pretty well) b/c next summer my grandmother and I are going to stay with my relatives in Europe for two months. I am so pysched! So, not trying to be nosy, but where in France are you from? Glad you are enjoying the story, lylas!

dw: Thanks! I love writing the feelings between them, 'specially when they are happy, lol! I get to use my daydreaming imagination. And I love daydreaming (wink wink).

Violet/Sarah: You know, you have been probably my most constant reader and reviewer, and I LOVE your stories about Javier and Katey. Thanks for everything girly, and keep writin'. I can't wait to read more!

angelluv: ROFL! I'm glad you like it so much, but please don't go dying on me...doesn't look good for business, ya know... ; D

Kenzie: Girl, I love you to death! You are so sweet, and I am so super psyched that you are enjoying my story this much. By the way, I saw DD: Havana Nights, so you don't have to feel bad for me now! Sorry about that last chapter being confusing for you, here is a play by play as you requested:
- Baby moves forward to see Katie and Christopher
- Joshua aimes at Baby and begins to pull the trigger when Johnny (not realizing it) shoots him in the arm
- When Johnny shoots him in the arm, Joshua's gun drops and he shoots the liquor bottles that were lying around and sends them into the fire
- Fire explodes, throwing Joshua to the ground
- Baby goes to children, ext.
Hope this helps, love ya girlie!

Baby00033: I also wanted to thank you for reading so religiously. Your stories are great (esp. a Piece of Johnny), and I really love reading them. I want to know what happens, so hurry up and get inspired!

Sweetness328: I truly truly appreciate your reviews. All of you compliments and criticism I appreciate beyond belief, and your reviews always make me feel so good about my writing, even when I'm down. Thank you so much for that. Lylas!

Love always, Ashleigh