xXc0okieSsNcrEamXx: The last chapter was a challenge. Hope you enjoy this one too.

As per usual I don't own West Side.

Italics equal thoughts.

Ice had just left his place heading to where the Jets would be meeting for a war council against the Emeralds. His girlfriend would be keeping Riffs new girl and Tonys girl Graziella company during the rumble.

He knew the relationship between Riff and the girl who's name he couldnt be bothered to remember wouldn't last. Hed taken note of the gazes Riff would shoot Graz when he thought no one was watching.

As he walked up Riff was the first to notice him. Tony was distracted by something concerning Action and Diesel.

"Hey buddyboy. Sleep in?" Riff asked with a smirk. He knew Velma had stayed at Ice's place.

"So what if I did?" Ice returned the smirk with a teasing one of his own. "I should ask you the same with whats her name?"

"Her name is Ella." Riff began making a face. "I dumped her last night. She couldnt handle my place in the gang."

Ice gave a calm nod as though he'd expected that which he did. He smoothly changed subjects. "What's the status on the Emeralds?"

Riff straightened easily falling out of his joking persona and into a more serious one. This is why Ice would be leader if something happened to him or Tony. He was cool headed and right to the point.

"We'll be facing them in three days time.."

With that the plans and plotting for the rumble lasted a few hours before the group heads out on patrol. Ice ended up paired with Riff.

"Riff?"

"Hm?"

Ice was quiet for a moment. Riff watched him from the corner of his eye. "If something happens to you or Tony.."

Riff recognized that Ice was snowballing thought wise and jumped in. "Nothins happenin to me or Tony Ice."

Ice turned his gaze to Riff as the cofounder of the Jets continued.

"Tony is our strongest fighter, up there with Action and me. I don't plan on goin down against a stinkin Emerald. But if we did, I know the Jets are in good hands with you."

Ice sighed. "I hear ya Riff but what if I screw up?"

"You're cool headed. That's why we selected you to take over if both Tony and me meet our maker."

The two Jets kept an eye out for any lingering Emeralds as they patrolled their territory.

"I believe in ya, Ice. I know Tony and the other boys do too."

The rumble took place and the Jets had beaten the Emeralds soundly. To celebrate they went to Tony and Riffs apartment with some stolen alcohol courtesy of Riff.

When most of the crew were sleeping off how drunk they were a mostly smashed Ice went into the kitchen to get some food. He had taken a heavy hit in the rumble but was prevented from getting killed by Riff.

"How ya feeling?"

Ice glanced over at Riff from over his shoulder. Riff leaned against the doorway.

"You took a heavy hit out there." Riff continued.

"Head hurts a bit but otherwise I'm alright."

Riff walked over taking a seat.

"What about you?" Ice asked while grabbing a loaf of bread for himself tossing a second one to Riff. "You took a couple licks yourself."

"Ain't nothin I couldn't handle."

With Tony getting arrested the following year following a rumble with the Egyptian Kings, Riff had stepped up as the new leader. Ice had watched as the transition from Tony to Riff as leader was seamless. Riff had even began going out with Tonys ex Graziella.

Ice was an awe of how well Riff took on the role of leader. He seemed so at ease and yet he also knew that Riff hated it. It was subtle but it was there if one knew the signs to look for.

"Hey buddyboy, you goin to the dance?"

"Yeah, you goin with Graz?"

Riff nodded. He grinned at the thought of Graz dancing alongside him. The two went to their respective places to get ready. It was strange without Tony but it was soon becoming a new normal.

The night before the fateful rumble that took Riffs life, Riff was awoken to pounding on his door. Graziella shifted beside him stirring.

"Go see who it is, baby.." Graz mumbled more than half asleep.

Riff rubbed his girlfriends bare arm before pressing his lips to Graziellas temple. "I will. Go back to sleep babe." He said in a half asleep husky manner.

The pounding continued as Riff got out of the bed and put on some pants. He made his way to the door and opened it. His annoyed expression fell into an expression of equal parts confused and concern at the sight of a panicked Ice who then threw himself at Riff in a tight hug.

Riff kicked the door behind Ice shut with his foot before leading him to the couch and sitting him down. "Stay here." He ordered before moving into the bedroom.

Ice obeyed the order staring blankly at the wall through panicked tear filled eyes.

"Graz." Riff said softly rousing Graziella.

"Hmmph?" Graz mumbled sleepily blinking open her hazel eyes to look at the man she loved. The look on his face had Graziella sitting up. "What's wrong?"

"Ice is out in the living room. Can ya stay with him and keep him calm?"

Graz nods and slips out of bed pulling on one of Riffs shirts and some soft sweatpants. Riff pulled on a shirt of his own. The couple made their way out to Ice. Graziella stayed with Ice while Riff disappeared into the kitchen.

Ice stared into space, not fully registering Graziella sitting next to him. Graz was worried about the distraught Jet as Riff repeared ten minutes later with a steaming cup of tea.

"Here. It's boilin so be careful." Riff spoke in a calm soft tone as he handed the distraught Jet the tea. "Graz tells me lavender is suppose to be calming."

It took a couple secods but Riff was patient as Ice took the cup. The leader in training stared at the tea for a long moment before taking a careful sip. Riff waited a bit until he deemed Ice calm enough.

"What happened?" He asked. "Its unlike you to come banging at my door at three in the mornin." Riff kept his voice calm.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have woken you and Graziella."

Graz stayed quiet, worried hazel eyes on Ice. Riff spoke again. "We ain't mad. You clearly needed someone and knew you were welcome here. What happened?"

"It was just a dream but...But it felt so real."

Riff settled back against the couch, watching as Ice took another sip. He seemed to become the calm Ice he knew the longer he was there. Riff remained silent but shared a look with his girlfriend. Both knew the dream had to have been bad to have Ice banging on their door at three in the morning.

"We were fighting against the sharks and you died Riff." Riff frowned as the other boys eyes filled with tears. "You died an there was nothin any of us could do."

Riff told no one but Graz but he had similar dreams were one of his own had died fighting. He knew how bad those sucked. "I'm still here." Riff started as he grabbed Ice's hand letting him feel his heartbeat for himself. "Feel that, buddyboy? I'm still kickin. Tomorrow night those Sharks will be a bad memory. We'll all celebrate our victory here. Even if they did get the drop on me, an they won't, you'd be ready to lead the Jets."

Little did Riff know he was wrong. He would die and Ice would step up as leader. But for now he was alive and breathing. He let Ice stay asleep on the couch when he finished the tea and passed out. He and Graz head back to bed.

"Promise me Riff.."

Riff looked down to look Graz in the eye.

"Promise me you'll come back."

"I'll come back to you Graz." Riff said softly kissing the blondes head and holding her securely against him.

As Riff lay dying in the salt shed his last thoughts were of Graz and the Jets. 'I'm sorry I couldn't make it back to you Graz.' Ice, I know you're scared but you'll be a good leader.' He thought as the pain of being stabbed faded into nothing. The last thing Riff saw was Tonys distraught face and the equally distraught faces of the Jets before he stopped breathing.

When the funerals for Tony, Bernardo, and Riff took place a numb Ice stopped in front of Riffs casket. "Thank you for always bein there for us Riff. I'm sorry I wasn't the leader you saw in me." Ice mumbled, fresh tears sprung to his eyes as he made his way back to his friends.