Disclaimer: I do not own anything that does not have my name written next to it in pretty pink pen. I only own my own fictional characters, this include my OFC Nicola Andrews and her family. I also do not own any of the songs used to write this story…except on CD.
Reviews etc. are always appreciated and adored.
Summary- "She always said you were her knight in shining armour." Mia appeared from nowhere, her face stained with tears as she looked down at the car. Leon looked up at her and his face fell. "I'm so sorry, Le. If we hadn't…" She started to sob again and Leon stood up pulling the girl into a hug, pressing a kiss into her hair. "Hey Mia, it wasn't your fault, baby."
Okay so a few notices lol. Mrz LOT and Lady Alana are confused what uni is- it's University- I think you Americans have them lol. No over here instead of doing college then going into a particular profession we just jump straight on in. And if you're interested I am studying Equine Science. It doesn't really give you a particular career but I get to ride ponies and pretend I'm smart. If that doesn't tempt you to move to Australia- this should- our drinking age is 18, sex age is 16 and we're all tanned and blonde…no I lie…I am a somewhat red-head, but the rest is true. SO moral of the story- Prince William is coming this month so Australia is pretty fabulous! So yeah…And just a little bit of random information ever since I started writing this story well…Home I've noticed the weirdest thing- like theres this guy that goes to McDonalds every Friday night and he drives a white Skyline…and he made it ugly : ( and there are street races in the city that I go to uni in. I also have seen a SS and a 70-something Mustang floating around. What else can I tell you to take up space? Oh yeah…
THANK YOU to Love Ink, Gingermegs, Mrz LOT, CaseyMorgan tfatfreak207 and D. And D and Mrz LOT I really appreciate the Johnny loving that goes on on this review board =D haha. Love him…and Matt too…he's cool. Only a month til it comes out here! Woo! Thank you guys!
Playlist –
Mace Spray – The Jezebels
Timing is Everything – Garett Hedlund
Chapter Thirty-Seven – And you think
For the second time in two days Leon fumbled with a lighter, cussing at it as it refused to spark.
"Fucking piece of shit." He said, bringing the lighter up to his face and trying again, finally getting a flame which he held to the end of the cigarette before letting the button go and the flame went out, leaving the lighter held up to his face, shaking with his hand.
"Leon?" He took a drag as he saw a blonde nurse walk out of the front entrance and exhaled smoke out into the air. When she got closer her eyes narrowed at him in confusion. "Leon?"
Turning to face her he forced a smile.
"How you doin' Nancy?" He drawled and took another drag. She cocked her head to the side and her long blonde hair fell to one side.
"Better than you by the looks of it. Come and get a coffee with me?" She asked and he nodded slowly. "You'll have to put that out." Nancy gestured to the cigarette and he dropped it on the asphalt of the parking lot and ground it out with his sneaker. "Come on." Leon followed her obediently and found himself sitting in the canteen, people everywhere and a steaming mug of caffeinated slush in front of him. "So what's going on?" Nancy said, taking a sip of her diet coke.
"Did you see La?" He asked and Nancy shook her head.
"No, I saw her name on the admin sheet at the reception. You want to tell me what happened?" She asked softly and Leons lip twitched.
"I don't know. She just woke up this morning and couldn't feel her legs." He said, swirling the liquid around the cup. "She didn't even tell me she's been in pain for months. I just…" He choked back a sob and rubbed the heels of his hands into his watering eyes. "It's been a fuck of a year." He said as an afterthought and Nancy reached out and pulled a hand away from his face.
"Is there something else?" She asked and Leon sighed.
"It's just been hard- we didn't think the baby was going to make it this far." He sighed and Nancy smiled at him softly.
"I can see what I can do to find out what's going on. Last I heard she was getting scans done. But Leon, stop beating yourself up over it, and for godsake we all know she would kill you for smoking." She laughed and squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"Thanks Nancy." The blonde just smiled at him brilliantly.
"I always had a soft spot for that girl."
"She has that effect on people. But…you really think it's going to be okay?" He asked and Nancy shrugged.
"As a professional you know I can't promise you anything Leon. But it's not like she hasn't beaten the odds before. To be up and walking like she was in that period of time was amazing." She took her hand away from his and stood up. "You stay in here and I'll come and find you soon." She walked away from the table and back into the hospital leaving Leon to his coffee.
A few hours later Nancy re-emerged and jerked her head at him to tell him to follow him. He made his way down the hall, through the waiting room where Vince and Steph looked up expectantly at him, but he kept his eyes on Nancys back and followed her to a private room not far from her first room.
She pushed the door open and held it open for Leon.
"I'll leave you to it." Nancy said and Leon smiled gratefully.
"Thanks for this Nancy."
"No worries, sweetie." And she was gone, leaving Leon to walk into the room. He felt his heart jump into his throat at the sight of her sitting up in the bed, her eyes on him as her hand rested on her stomach.
"Hey." He said softly and she threw him an easy smile.
"Hey yourself." She replied. Leon walked over and sat down in the chair beside her bed and leant his elbows on his knees, looking up at her.
"So?"
"The baby's putting pressure on my spine which hasn't healed completely." She said softly and Leon sighed, rubbing his face with his hands.
"Fuck, La." He whispered and Nicola reached over and ran her fingers across his scalp and her thumb brushed the top of his ear.
"It's fine. And besides you didn't wait for the good news." She said and Leon raised his eyebrows. How on earth could there be good news. "Well not good, but it could be worse. I'm allowed to go home, like now if you want to take me." She smiled.
"But…" He trailed off.
"Bed rest, baby. Not allowed off my ass for the next two months. So you'll have to be my slave again." He reached up and grabbed her hand from the side of his face and held it in his own.
"We'll have to move Mario out of his room, you can't live upstairs." He said quietly and Nicola shrugged.
"The sofas a fold out." She said and Leon shook his head.
"You're not sleeping on the damn couch. I'll sort something out. You'll just have to stay upstairs for awhile and…I'll stay home with you." He said and Nicola jerked her hand from his.
"No-way. Not a hope in hell, Leon." His eyes narrowed but she was still shaking her head. "No – if we're locked up there all day and night together we'll probably kill each other." She said and Leon smiled slightly.
"It wouldn't happen."
"You forget what I was like last time – I was a bitch." She laughed but it didn't get a smile from Leon. "Hey, lighten up. I can stay here if you want me to." She said and Leon reached for her hand and shook his head.
"No, really La, its fine. We'll work something out. So you want me to take you home?" he asked and she nodded enthusiastically.
"Please." He nodded and stood up.
"I'll go and get the forms." Leon made his way out of the room towards the reception. As he asked for the forms he heard Steph and Vince walk up to him.
"She alright man?" Vince asked and Leon looked over his shoulder at his friend.
"She's on bed rest 'til the baby's born." He sighed and Vince nodded.
"At least she's okay." Leon nodded at Vinces words. Yeah she was okay, at the moment.
"Yeah, I'll take her home." He said and signed the forms the nurse slid across the desk to him and Vince and Steph followed him into the room, where Nicola was still sitting.
"Look at you kitten." Vince said when they walked in and Nicola gave him a small smile.
"I know, I'm a stunning image." She shrugged, causing the collar of Leons shirt to fall off her shoulder, showing off the strap of her bra. "Are you taking me home, boyfriend?" She asked, looking up at Leon.
"Yeah, La, I'm taking you home."
"Not without this." Nancy appeared in the doorway, pushing a wheelchair in front of her which got her a groan from Nicola.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Nope. You're wheelchair bound, my girl." Nancy laughed and Nicola glared at her. "Come on, get her in." She gestured at Leon who picked Nicola up easily and sat her down in the chair, her numb bare feet resting on the footrests.
"Thanks Nancy." Leon said as he pushed Nicola towards the door, Vince and Steph quietly trailing behind.
"And don't think I didn't notice that you two came down here together. Did you stay the night Steph?" Nicola said as the couple fell into step with Leon.
"You're not very subtle are you, La?" Steph asked as Vince looped an arm around her waist.
"Nope." There was a small chuckle from Vince as he leant over and ruffled Nicolas long hair.
"Well we've got jobs to get to. I'll see you later, kitten." Vince said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head and patting Leon on the shoulder as he walked past.
"I'll come and see you after work. Be good to Leon, alright?" Nicola nodded and Steph squeezed her arm before jogging after Vince to catch up, slipping her hand into his as she caught up. And Nicola couldn't help but have a pang of jealousy at the sight. She might never get to chase after Leon and grab his hand like that, she might not be able to chase after their child. The doctors had told her that is was likely she'd get the feeling back as soon as the baby was born, but she couldn't help but think of the negatives.
Nicola buried her head in his chest as he carried her up the stairs and inhaled. Leon wasn't paying attention as she pinched his bicep and he nearly dropped her, looking down at her in surprise.
"You smell like cigarettes." She said softly and Leon shook his head.
"Yeah I had one at the hospital." He replied honestly and felt Nicolas hands start patting his chest, her fingers deftly undoing the button on his shirt pocket and pulling out the packet of Marlboro Lights and throwing them back down the stairs before wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head in his chest.
She was still like this when Leon placed her down on the bed.
"Come on La, let go."
"No, I don't want to." She pouted and tightened her grip slightly. Leon leant over her and managed to make his way onto the bed so he was lying beside her, her arms still wrapped around his neck and her head still in his chest.
His hand came around to run down her back, stopping at the small of her back and dancing his fingers along the exposed skin.
"La?" her arms pulled her closer to him and Leons hands rested on her hips, just above the waistband of her dance shorts.
"I thought I'd lost it again." She said into the fabric of his shirt and Leons fingers gripped tightly to her hips. She'd voiced his thoughts exactly.
"But you didn't La. The baby is fine."
"Yeah, at the moment it is." Her head didn't move from his chest and Leon shifted so he was burying his head in the crook of her neck, amongst her hair.
"We'll get through this I promise."
"Hm…I'll hold you to that." She said softly, her fingers playing with the hair on the nape of his neck. He pulled his face away from her neck and looked at her before glancing towards the door.
"I should get you a TV." He said, changing the subject and Nicolas eyebrow rose.
"You're kidding right?" She said, surprise in her voice.
"You're going to get bored sitting up here by yourself all day." He replied and she let go of his neck and sat up, running a hand through her long knotty hair.
"And it's not like we're going to be having sex anytime soon right?" She said, her voice hurt.
"La…" She held up her hand to silence him.
"You're right. You should go and get a television. Why don't you go and do that now?" She said, her eyebrow still cocked and her lips in a tight line. Leon getting the hint sighed and sat up, climbing off the bed quickly.
"Fine anything else you want?" He asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
"I also want a pony and a Calvin Klein model."
"You're fucking dreaming." Leon laughed and leant over, kissing her cheek, thankful that she'd somehow diffused the situation. "I'll go and get you a television." He straightened up and made his way towards the door. "And as if you would want a Calvin Klein model over this?" he replied, gesturing to himself, a sly smile on his face.
"Fuck off already!" She laughed and threw a pillow at him as he ducked out the door.
She was lying there, reading her business text book that Steph had given Leon the day before when he came in lugging a large box.
"You're back!" Nicola said when Leon sat the box down on the floor and Mario walked in behind him.
"State the obvious?" Mario quipped and Nicola glared at him.
"I heard that Leon broke your back last night." He said and Nicola wrinkled her nose in disgust as he put down another, smaller box on top of the one Leon had just brought in.
"You're disgusting." She replied and Mario winked at her.
"And you're a complete prude. I thought you would have cured her of that, man." Mario looked at Leon who just ignored him and ripped the box open and pulled out the television, placing it on the dresser that was sitting beside the door.
"What's in the other box?" Nicola asked as Leon positioned the antenna on top of the television.
"A DVD player. He got it on special." Mario laughed. Leon plugged the television in before flicking it on and adjusting the antenna and standing back to inspect his work.
"So you can watch Dirty Dancing when I'm not here." Leon said, turning around to face her.
"You're such a sweetie. Isn't he a sweetie Mario?" Nicola asked, smirking up at Mario.
"Alright, point taken. I'm going now." Mario said, going to leave but Nicola called his name, before glancing up at Leon.
"You don't have to do it now." Leon whispered and Nicola shook her head.
"Can you go get me something to eat please, baby?" She asked, sugar sweet and Leon sighed, walking past Mario towards the door.
"I wouldn't try anything, she can still hit you." Leon muttered to the youngest Catalano as he walked past and Mario smirked.
"I think he's worried I'd take advantage of you. What's up, sugar?" Mario said, walking over and going to sit down on the bed beside her but the look on Nicolas face stopped him. He held his hands up in defence and stood back. "So?"
"Um…I don't know how to say this…" She said softly and Marios thick eyebrows went up.
"It's easy, bella- I love you." He grinned but it didn't get a smile from Nicola.
"Quite the opposite actually. Um…right," She looked up at him and sighed. "Well, the baby will be here in two months, and it doesn't have to happen right away but…" she hoped he got where she was going so she didn't have to say it. When he didn't she took a deep breath. "You're going to have to move out." She said and Marios face fell.
"What about Vince? If you need room, why doesn't he move in with Steph?" He asked and Nicola shook her head.
"This isn't about room, Mario." Wincing at the expression on his face Nicola continued, "With everything that happened I just don't think it's a good idea, you being here with a baby." She said softly.
"You don't think it is or Leon doesn't?" He asked.
"Come on, Mario- this has nothing to do with Leon." She lied.
"It has everything to do with Leon. It always has!"
"Look this is my decision Mario. Leon is my fiancée and this is our baby and you're a bad example." She said and Mario scoffed.
"And Leon and Vince aren't?" He asked.
"Leon and Vince admitted their mistakes. They stayed and faced the consequences, even if it meant going to jail. You just ran." She practically screamed at him. "You left us, Mario. Like a coward. You killed someone and you ran. We all stayed here – when Jess died, when Dom and Letty took off, we stayed. We didn't run." She ground the last part out and glared at Mario. She was at the point that she didn't even care if he hated her.
"You're a bitch you know."
"Get out now." She hissed and Mario went to walk towards her but a hand on the back of his collar yanked him back.
"She said get out Mario." Leon said as he looked at his friend.
"Some friend you are." Mario sniped and Leon shrugged.
"Just go." Leon said, the smallest hint of hurt in his voice at Marios words. Mario shrugged Leons hand off and stalked off. Leon looked over at Nicola who was looking at him sadly her hand resting on her stomach. "I'm sorry, La." He said and Nicola shrugged.
"I had to do it. You were right." She reached out to him, "And just because you kicked him out doesn't mean you don't care about him." She smiled as Leon leant over her.
"I don't care." Leon lied, his free hand rubbing his chin.
"Oh right, sorry you big man, you." Nicola laughed.
A/N: There you go…so yep…REVIEW x