Lester's POV

I have decided to accompany Abuela back to Miami, not that she needs an escort, but I need a change of scenery. I am regretting setting up my pad in Carlos and Steph's house because when I'm there, I feel like a third wheel. Don't get me wrong, they include me when I want to be involved, but with the baby on the way, I just feel like I'm in the way. I never expected to be stateside for such a long time, but due to Steph's pregnancy and Carlos's capture, our team has been given an extended break. Carlos was adamant about not leaving again until after the baby is born, preferable until she's baptized. Fortunately, we're good enough that they comply, but I'm inching to go somewhere. I have a lot of pent up energy that I need to release.

As much as Abuela wants me to stay with her, I decide to stay in a hotel. Bobby and Tank are meeting me here tomorrow. We're going out for New Year's Eve. I'm hoping to at least pick up a chick for the night because I really need to get laid. Today, however, I plan on spending the day with Abuela. I know there are a few things around the house that need to be fixed, so I will take care of those chores. I arrive at 1000, prepared to begin work. I change out the light bulbs in the front of the house and the rear. I fix the door that gets stuck going into the garage. I weed the garden. By now, it's 1300 and time for lunch.

"Lester, just in time. I fixed a little something for you. Here, sit down. I made you some lemonade."

I sit at the kitchen table, picking up the fork and knife to eat the pollo con arroz that my Abuela made for me. She sits opposite me, with a dish of her own.

"Lester, I'm concerned. You don't seem happy. On the outside, you joke and fool around, but I can see, in your eyes, that you aren't happy. What's wrong, mi hijo?"

"I guess I don't know where I belong, Abuela. I thought I would be seeing more action, not that I'm unhappy about spending the holidays with the family, but I want to fight the fight. I love staying with Carlos and Steph, but now that the baby is almost here, I feel like an intruder. No, Abuela, before you ask, they never claimed to not want me around. In fact, Steph is thrilled I'm home. It's just me. I guess in some ways, I'm still jealous of what they have. Part of me wonders if Carlos met Steph first, and I met her here in Miami if I would be him."

"No matter when they were destined to meet, they were destined to be together. They are the other half of each other's soul. You could never make Estefania as happy as Carlito can. Are you dating anyone?"

"No, nothing serious. I've gone out with women. Most don't go beyond the first date, a few progress to a few weeks. My longest was four months, and that was before 9/11. My longest relationship was with Sydney, here in Miami."

"Ah, I remember her. She was a sweet girl. Smart, pretty, take no-nonsense girl. She was good for you. Whatever happened?"

"I moved to New York, and she went to UCLA for school. We just drifted apart by growing up, by becoming adults. We tried to keep in touch. At first, we spoke every night, then every other night. Before long, it was a weekly call or e-mail, which turned into a bi-monthly check-in, and so on. It just happened. Then, I decided to join the Army. The last time I spoke to her was the day I enlisted. She wasn't happy with that choice. She said I was being stupid and would probably get myself killed. Maybe she was right."

"Rubbish. Look, I know it's hard. It's not easy to have that kind of connection shoved in your face day in and day out, but you mean an awful lot to both of them. Don't push them away."

"I won't, but I think I need to stand fully on my own a bit."

"Why do you get an apartment here. You now, Senora Aristega is renting a basement apartment. It could give you a place to crash when you need to be alone."

"That sounds like a good idea, Abuela. I can tell Carlos and Steph that I'm coming here to visit you. They won't be hurt or think I don't want to be with them."

"And then, when you're centered, you can go back to Virginia."

I feel better talking to Abuela. I don't know why I always avoid talking to her. She still has the best advice and insight. Stupid me. I start to eat with more gusto, and soon, Abuela and I are talking about the Miami gossip.

I leave after dinner, heading back to my hotel. When I get there, I'm greeted by Tank and Bobby.

"Hey Santos, we managed to get an earlier flight, so we're here. Can we crash with you tonight? Our room won't be available until tomorrow." Tank said.

"Sure, no problem. I'll add you to my room for tonight so you can get keys. Did you guys eat?"

"Yes, we did. Why?" Bobby asked.

"Well, if you didn't, we were going to take a trip back to my Abuela. She made enough food to feed an Army."

"Can we go tomorrow?" Tank asked eyes lit up.

"Sure. I'll call Abuela in the morning."

Once I got them registered in my room, we went up. Thank goodness I got a small suite. I had two pull out beds plus a master bedroom. "Brown, maybe we should just stay here with Lester. I'm sure with the three of us paying for this room, it will be cheaper than the room we reserved."

"I think you're right. What do you think, Santos?"

"That's fine with me."

"How's Jersey and Ranger doing?" Inquires Bobby.

"They are doing well. Jersey is getting rounder and crankier. She has gestational diabetes, so the base of her food pyramid is wiped out. Ranger, though, is keeping her in check. They are both over the moon about becoming parents. Especially Ranger."

"It's so hard to picture tough, bad-ass Ranger as a father."

"To a baby girl."

"No, shit. Tank, there's going to be a mini-Jersey walking around."

"And our boy Ranger is going to be wrapped around her finger the moment she's born."

Yup. Their assessment of my cousin is spot on. He'll be bowing to the needs and wants of his daughter from the first moment. We discuss our plans for the next day and for the New Year's Eve party tomorrow night.

"We should keep your room. If two of us get lucky, we have two rooms to use. If only one of us does, we have another room to crash in." I suggest.

"How will we know which room to go to?" Bobby asks.

"We'll have to discretely text each other. How about this. We'll try to go to the chick's room first. It's always easier to sneak out that way." Tank states.

"Perfect plan."

The next day comes and goes, and before we know it, we're inside the hottest club in Miami, getting ready to ring in 2005. There is no shortage of hot women here tonight, and I think we're all going to be ringing in the New Year with a bang.

"Lester? Lester Santos? Is that you?" I hear someone call me from behind. I turn around, only to see Sydney standing before me. She's even more beautiful now then she was the last time I saw her.

"Sydney. How are you?" I ask as I lean in to kiss her cheek.

"I'm doing great. I was here to see my family for the holidays. I'm heading back to San Diego on the second. What about you?"

"I came here with Abuela after Christmas. I met up with a couple of friends from the Army. They're here, somewhere."

"So, you joined. Have you seen any action?"

"Yes, I did join. I actually went to Ranger school. I'm a Ranger now, and I've been on two missions. I'm due for my next soon. We're just waiting on Ran…I mean Carlos. He's our team leader. He and Steph are expecting their first child in February."

"They are still together?"

"Yeah, they are married. They got married that day after Carlos and I graduated from Ranger school. Steph went to Military Intelligence school and works in Virginia."

"Wow, I have a hard time picturing Steph in the Army."

"Stephanie's good. If she had the desire and a Y-chromosome, she would have made a damn good Ranger. She'd give Carlos a run for his money. Her niche, though, is right where she is, in the gathering and interpreting of data and information.

"What about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

"No, not right now. You?"

"Nope. I'm single. I just broke up with my boyfriend of three years. He decided he wanted to move home to New Jersey. I'm not a winter girl, so we broke up. I'm okay with it. I didn't really see us together long-term."

From her tone of voice, I could tell that she was telling me the truth, at least the truth she wanted to believe. I knew that she was still hung up on her ex, but since the music was pumping, I remembered that Sydney was a great dancer, I asked her to dance with me. We spend the next couple of hours dancing, drinking, talking, and making out. Finally, the clock struck midnight.

"Les, spend the night with me, please?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Your place or mine?"

"Mine. I have a room in the hotel next door."

"Let me just text my friends, so they know where I am."

"Okay. I'm going to text mine as well."

Once we took care of informing our respective groups, we took off. When we got to Sydney's room, she opened the door. It barely closed when I had her backed against the door, kissing her and undressing her. Her dark brown hair was fixed in soft curls that were becoming straight once again. Her beautiful brown eyes were the color of fine whiskey. Her curves were more pronounced and fit well in my hands. I fumbled in my pocket for my condoms, taking out four. Hey, I'm a guy. I got to be prepared. I quickly cover up and enter Sydney against the door of her hotel room. Not the most romantic, but definitely hot. When we recover, we move the party to the bed, where I make use of the other three condoms. Finally, we have one last round in the shower.

"Syd, I have no more condoms."

"It's okay. I'm on the pill."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm positive." We finish our last two rounds in the bathroom and then go back into the bed. I make love to her once again before she falls asleep. Right before she's about to drift off to sleep, she speaks.

"I love you, Lester Santos. Always have and always will."

Fuck me. I knew this wasn't a good idea. I lay there, with my heart pounding in my chest, listening carefully to Sydney's breathing. Once I know she's asleep, I sneak out of bed, careful not to disturb her. I get dressed, finding the pad and pen that are in every hotel room. I decide to leave her a note.

Sydney,

I am glad that I bumped into you. You are indeed a wonderful woman, and any man would be lucky to call you his woman. But right now, I am in no position to be in a serious relationship. On our first mission, Carlos was captured. Thankfully, Stephanie was able to convince everyone that he was still alive, but I don't want that pain for you. Please don't try to find me. If our paths cross again, then it will be fate giving us a nudge. Otherwise, I'll see you when I see you.

Lester

PS. I did love you, and I possibly still do, but I have no fucking idea.

I sneak out after giving her one last kiss to her forehead. I make sure her door is secure, then check my phone, seeing it's safe to go back to my room. Happy 2005 indeed.


A/N: Well, Mayor Stupid was pressured into closing the school until at least April 20th! YAY! However, I still have to teach my kids, which is fine. Today, tomorrow and Thursday I will be learning what that will look like. I don't mind, but I'm now wondering what that means for my students and the end of the year test (I have one 8th grade class taking a high school level course that ends in a Regents exam). Now, to wait on State Ed to make a decision. Stay healthy and safe. In this story, COVID-19 doesn't exist and everyone isn't crazy, only the Burg.