Seven years later….

"Ladies, we're going to miss the bus if we don't move it along. I've made you a very special breakfast." I hummed against the bathroom door for the third time that morning. Knuckles wrapping harder with emphasis.

"You can't cook!"

A hush of voices and feminine giggles followed Mary's declaration, prompting me to knock again.

"Keep your shirt on, Adler!"

Mary's unmistakable laugh bellowed again, this time at Vinnie's use of my last name. Everytime. Didn't matter how many times Mary heard it, the way Vin would purposely draw out her accent and turn the A into a long, comical sound always made Mary crack up.

It wasn't but a second later, feet moved behind the door and I relocated myself back into the kitchen ever so coyly. As if I wasn't just banging on the door like some relentless vacuum salesman. The hinges creaked open and out into the hall they stepped.

"I look like a Disney character!"

"You look cute. Now go on, get some breakfast before your Uncle has a heart attack." Vin shooed Mary towards the table.

"You could save him."

Mary piped, skipping into the kitchen. Her red dress swinging with the movement.

I couldn't help but notice how much she looked like a polite little lady. But then she'd open her mouth and spew out some calculated argument.

Mary was especially feisty this morning, her first day of public school. Up until now we had decided to homeschool her.

It was Vinnie who pointed out, randomly one day, that the only real interaction the seven year old had was with three adults. Me, herself and Roberta, the neighbor a few doors down who was equally as feisty. The thought of public school had gnawed at my brain for some time, depriving me of sleep some nights. That was until Vin opened that pretty little mouth of hers and did what she did best: Insult me.

'Even I get tired of staring at that mug of yours day in and day out..'

Complete with a twitching smirk and a shoulder jab.

"Yes, but the question is would I want to?"

I raised a brow with dramatic shock towards the brunette standing in my kitchen, hand cocked on her round hip.

"Ouch."

Vin sent me a wink at my feigned hurt before collecting her steaming cup from the counter.

"Where's the 'special' ?"

Mary's disgusted look scowled even more when I simply directed her attention towards the red letters: Special K.

I earned an eye roll from both women that time.

"Eat a muffin, honey. I made your favorite." Vinnie hummed, sliding the plastic container filled with Blueberry-Lemon deliciousness.

I'd already had two.

I don't intend to divulge how much weight I'd gained since moving down here. Vinnie's kitchen next door never seemed to disappoint, churning out the most lip smackin', finger lickin', stomach filling dishes I've ever had.

No one went hungry around Vinnie.

Mary's face lit up for a half a second, snatching up a perfectly browned bundle. Half a second of peace before it started again.

"Please don't make me go. I don't understand why I can't just keep being home schooled. It's worked so far."

Round #103, if I wasn't being too dramatic, of 'Why Mary is going to public school.'

I shifted my attention from the prep of a peanut butter sandwich to the set of honey brown eyes already staring at me from behind her tea.

We'd sat up countless nights discussing it, Vin and I. Volleying different arguments over the phone, with her on a shift and me awake in bed. Over all these years we've coordinated our schedules according to Mary. Vin even switched to night shift and I had began to bring my work home with me. Hence the array of tools and small engine parts decorating the house and Vinnie's successful practice of only running on a few hours sleep.

That spunky brunette worked her tail off. Never skipping a beat, she'd come home from a 12 hour shift, see me off to work, brew some tea and take care of Mary all day. But soon diapers turned to scuffed knees, bottle feedings to bicycle training. Kids tend to grow up, and before we knew it, it was time for school. So Vinnie would come off a shift and carry out whatever lesson plan was set out for that day.

I would come back from the shop or whatever dock I'd been working that day (perks of freelancing), Vin would get a couple hours sleep and then get right back to it. Trading stacks of textbooks and dull pencils for a starched, navy blue paramedics uniform. One I couldn't stare at too long or those thoughts I fought so hard would awaken and I'd have to excuse myself until the blood returned to all the proper places.

Vinnie had a pretty set schedule, the perks of being one of the best on the squad and ranking experience. She had agreed to take the chaotic abyss known to the department as 'Friday night Frights'. Infamous for its lethal combination of: payday earnings, the urge to let loose after a long grueling week and an ever flowing abundance of alcohol. There was never a shortage of domestic disputes, bar fights, overdoses or public intoxication.

She'd picked me up off the sticky floor of Ferg's before. Not one of the proudest moments of my life but it happened. The result of a drunken argument between some burley guy who was itching to show off in front of his slurring girlfriend. I landed a comfy night in jail and Vinnie earned herself a scar from punching the guy's girlfriend after she came at me with a stolen piece of silverware.

I'd never been so turned on and shocked at the same time. Vinnie laid the little spider monkey of a woman out without hesitation. I thought of that night every time I caught a glimpse of the silvery curve along her knuckle.

I don't know how Vinnie could stomach it but she did, elbow to elbow with the offenders and cops without so much as a batted eye.

Wonder Woman in blue polyester, I called her.

All that to ensure she had off Saturday and Sunday. Sunday nights especially, as we would always eat dinner together. Taking turns cooking we'd either be stuffed into my shoebox sized house or hers. Roberta would often join us too, as long as she promised not to heckle Vin or I about our relationship.

"Everyone in the state of Florida can feel the heat coming off you two. The way you look at each other. Hell, you're already raisin' a child together! What's a little kissin' and holdin' going to change?"

I'd heard it over and over, for years.

I won't lie to you, Vinnie and I have had plenty of almosts. I mean, you can't be around a person day in and day out, struggling through milestones,sharing damn near everything and not feel something.

Especially with Vinnie.

She was charming, fiery, gorgeous and always there to bust my balls about something. I've loved her since the moment she broke through that tired old door.

But when it would finally happen, the build up making us both so sensitive that all it would take was a simple side glance or play on words to set either of us off. And it would be during those pawing hands and breathless kisses (God, those lips were as sweet as they were soft) that one of us would be reminded that we weren't the only ones affected by the relationship.

Whether it be a scribbled crayon drawing on the fridge that caught Vinnie's eye as I roughly guided her onto the wobbly kitchen table, attacking the skin of her neck or the sharp pain of a textbook's edge sneaking from the confines of the couch and into my back as Vin straddled my waist. We'd freeze, look at each other in heated regret and quickly unhinge ourselves.

Mary had been through so much already. How could we risk the only constant in her life if Vinnie and I's relationship went south?

No matter how strong our feelings were for each other there was always that nagging voice of doubt.

We loved Mary too much.

So those emotions were tamped down, ignored until they were nothing more than a ghost in the corner. Always hanging around but never acknowledged.

The occasional Friday night hook up helped ease those feelings…okay more than occasional. Friday nights at Ferg's had become a ritual for me. There always seemed to be a line of doe eyed women with a soft spot for brooding and quiet types. Ready to 'fix me' in the only way they knew how, by taking off their clothes. But it was never the woman I was hoping for.

It was never Vinnie.

I hate to admit it because none of those women deserved it, but more often than not through my drunken haze their features would fall away. Fade slowly into a familiar smirk and brown eyes, flecked with golden mischief. Thick curls would filter through my fingers like rivers of silk.

"What are you waiting for, Adler?" I could practically hear her egging me on.

But no matter how hard I tried to numb myself, none of those women got my heart beating like Vinnie did and there's just something about a person that knows you better than you know yourself. A blanketing warmth of contentment and acceptance like no other.

"Because we've taught you just about everything we know. It's about time you get out there and then you'll be the one teaching us." Vin advised, wrangling her thicket of curls into a tidy ponytail.

"That's not true, Frank used to be a professor. There's no way he's taught me everything he knows."

Told you she always had a rebuttal ready. But so did Vinnie. Watching the two was quite entertaining. Vinnie's stubbornness rubbed off on Mary more and more everyday, I swear.

"Oh yeah, he sure was. But did he fail to mention the name of the college?"

Here it comes.

I could feel Mary's furrowed brow burning with confusion against my profile.

Don't look up, Adler. Keep peanut buttering that sandwich.

I could practically hear Vinnie's thoughts in my head. Perks of raising a kid with your best friend, you knew the others moves before they even did.

"Clown college, Peanut."

The answer had earned a Blueberry flavored laugh from Mary but she still wasn't having it.

"Pleaseeee."

Vinnie cocked a brow and tagged me in.

"No more arguing. We've discussed this ad nauseum and you're going."

That got Mary's attention.

"What's ad nauseum?"

I caught a glimpse of Vin's smirk from behind her mug. A silent encouragement to my reply.

"Oh? You don't know? Looks like someone needs some schooling after all."

Mary's gaze narrowed with a challenge before she sulked over to get her book bag, mumbling all the way. But not before a hand caught her sleeve.

"Told ya, he taught you everything he knows. Now he's making up words." Vinnie jabbed in a tone just loud enough for me to hear, earning a grumbled giggle from the adolescent.

Finishing up the remains of Mary's lunch with a huff I turned to the grinning woman.

"Would it kill you to back me up every once and awhile?"

I tried to ignore the rising hemline of her denim cut-offs as she reclined across two chairs. Sun kissed thighs glowing in the early morning rays.

"Now Adler, where would the fun be in that?"

I dared not let Vinnie catch my sly glances. Despite the bright beams of Florida sun and the slight turn of her face I could still see the glaze of welling tears and hear the slight sniffle she acquired as the bus rolled to a stop. Though to the rest of the world Vin wore an armor of sassy remarks and humour, Mary was her weakness.

The bus's breaks hissed to a halt and the door swung open like a tired yawn. We both eased onto a bent knee and leveled ourselves to say our goodbyes.

"Knock em' dead, Kiddo."

I quickly spoke for the both of us, Vinnie's tears stealing her words.

Mary dished out a strangling hug around each of our necks.

"Love you, Peanut." Vin managed into the blonde wisps of Mary's hair.

"I love you too, Ninnie."

Mary murmured before trudging into the open mouth of the awaiting bus.

The use of the old nickname, conjured from Mary's struggle with the letter V as a toddler, seemed to be the final nail in my best friend's coffin because suddenly a mop of curls whipped across my cheek as Vinnie muffled an overflowing cry into the fabric of my shirt.

She was trying so hard to keep that armor in one piece, not daring to let Mary see the sadness muddying those big brown eyes. I combed a calloused hand through her tangled ponytail before I wrapped an arm around Vinnie's slumped frame. I gave her a gentle squeeze to return Mary's descending wave.

"Is it too early for a beer? I could use a beer." Vinnie gritted through her best smile. She relaxed against me with a heavy exhale when the bus rounded the next street and was completely out of sight.

A chuckle passed my lips and into the coconut scent of her hair.

"Probably, but I won't tell."

We walked back to the house in silence. Vinnie's unlaced converse kicking at the dry grass, my hands finding the depths of my jean pockets.

That was until a familiar form popped from behind a patch of overgrown bushes, resembling more of an enraged bull than a neighbor. Face set with determination, feet slapping hard against the gritty stones.

Roberta.

"Shit!"

Vinnie barely had time to register my hissed curse before I caught the sleeve of her t-shirt and had us both scurrying in the opposite direction.

"Frank! Vinnie Mae! You get back here!"

Roberta demanded, picking up as much speed as her legs could give.

Despite her visible cringe at the use of her middle name Vinnie was a fit of laughter at my side, trailing under the firm grip I kept on her sleeve. Up the stairs we went, making haste with a quick lock of the dead bolt.

I bit back my own amusement and scolded Vin to follow my lead. "Act natural."

We returned to our bases; her at the table, me holding up the counter.

Soon a pair of dark eyes, fuming with narrow anger peered through the window.

Stifled laughter had us damn near breathless as Roberta tried the door.

Gaze growing darker by the second.

"Oh you are gonna get ittttt!" Vinnie sang to the bottom of her mug.

"Hush, you're an accompl-"

The metallic latch of the dead bolt echoed.

"Well good morning Miss Roberta!"

I stuffed my mouth with toast to keep from laughing. Only to accomplish a dust of chuckled crumbs to scatter across the tile.

"Don't 'good-morning-Miss-Roberta' me, Vivian Mae Dayton. I know you heard me callin' ya!"

I caught the tension in Vinnie's shoulders. She went by Vinnie so much I often forgot how dainty her full name sounded.

"Why now, Roberta, whatever do you mean?" She laid that southern accent on thick, buttery charm and all. "Frank and I were just finishing up breakfast and singin' your praises."

A hand flew up, halting the bullshit train right in the station.

"Now, Vin you stop right there with that southern Belle nonsense. Ain't gonna get you out of this one. We got bigger things to be talking about. Like how it's not too late to undo this! Go get in your car and get that girl."

"Now that key was for emergencies." A physical scolding for poking the bear came in the form of a pointed shoe hitting my calf.

"This is an emergency! How can you both be so calm about this? Running around giggling! Making light of this."

Vinnie sunk deeper into the chair, praying for an escape route to her dwindling tea. Like I said Vinnie was combative, even just for fun but she didn't dare sass Roberta.

My shoulders sagged, both in defeat and sheer exhaustion of having to repeat this discussion.

"She's gotta get out into the world, meet kids her own age."

The peanut butter and cereal box were returned to their designated spots. "She has no social skills, no idea how to just be a kid. Two nights ago, she told me even if Germany bails out the Euro there could still be a worldwide depression."

I watched Roberta's expression soften with concern.

"I laid awake for hours staring at the ceiling after that."

She accepted my peace offering in the form of a coffee mug.

"I'm so worried. They don't know her like we do."

The older woman confessed with a bitten cheek.

"Come'on Roberta. If you start crying, you know I'll have to pretend to cry and then Vinnie will start eating her feelings."

"Hey!" Another protesting converse hit my leg.

"You're dwelling on the worse. This could all work out, ya know."

I received a grumbled 'maybe' before that glazed over sulking evaporated from Roberta's face and hardened into that dark gaze again.

"But if anybody takes that baby away" A manicured cuticle thumped against my chest. "I'll smother you in your sleep."

And just when Vinnie thought she was free and clear, she quickly sucked back a giggle as Roberta's attention shifted to her.

"And I'll ship your ass back to Hicktown."

With a nimble swivel of her feet the raging Bull of a neighbor left. Leaving behind a pleasant good morning to Fred and both, Vinnie and I, in a fit of gasping laughter.

"There's no way I can go home and possibly sleep after that." Vinnie huffed, giving Fred a vigorous chin scratch.

"Come to the shop with me."

I cleaned up the contents of the countertop, sliding some toast on the table for both of us before taking a seat.

"Mikey won't mind?"

She asked a question through chomps of jam covered bread. A question she already knew the answer to.

Mikey, the owner of the marina shop I rented, was as grumpy as he was old. And he was old. That was of course with the exception of Vinnie, who he nicknamed Miss Peaches and had proposed to on several occasions.

Vinnie insisted it was because she's so sweet. But instinct told me otherwise. I know what goes on in a man's brain…and her charm isn't what he stares at when she walks by.

'You'll break an old man's heart if you aren't careful!' He calls after her, hat in hand and Vinnie just smiles.

She has that effect on people. Vinnie could do no wrong in Mikey's eyes. Or mine. Though the Alabama native sure knew how to push my buttons and acquired a certain defensiveness when asked about her past, she was everything to me. I'd never had a person to lean on like that.

"You know damn well he won't care. Hell, I bet he'd rather have you there than me."

A chuckle shook Vinnie's shoulders and she made room for another bite. I was delighted to see her eat because I knew how she could get with no food and if she was going to spend the day with me I was going to need to keep Miss Florida Peach happy. A full stomach equals happiness. Or so Vinnie says.

"Alright, fine."

Brown curls nodded, in a tone that made it seem like she was the one doing me a favor.

We sat there for awhile, breathing in the early heat of the day. Fred's bell jangled softly under the groaning sounds of the overworked air conditioner, that bled condensation into the scorched grass outside.

Scrolling through a mental checklist of tools to put in my bag, my gaze shifted to Vin and I noticed the evaporating smile. The sudden murkiness of worry.

Instinctively, I reached across and closed my hand around hers. Calloused roughness skated across smooth scars.

Vinnie wore them like tattoos, each telling their own story. She had an array across her body. Some with funny stories that made Mary clutch her sides in a breathless giggle and others with not so nice stories. Ones she barely opened up to me about.

Vinnie had a rough life growing up, though I didn't know all the details, it was evident through the way she strived so hard to make sure Mary never went without.

"She's going to be just fine. You raised her to be independent. Now's her chance."

I gave an assuring squeeze to the much smaller hand laced through mine and ignored the spreading tingle. Just like I always did. Like I've done for years now.

I watched Vinnie blink back the tears with a nod. She allowed herself one more sniffle before donning that emotional armor once more. I caught her lingered gaze on our hands before she jumped up.

"Let's roll, Adler. We're burning daylight."

Vin jogged out of the patchy screen door and across the lawn to her house. Leaving me to stare at the emptiness left behind in my hand. I let myself relish in the fading warmth for a moment longer.

Mary. We have Mary to think about.

My mantra coached before locking those feelings back up tight. The floor squeaked under my boots as I erected upward. Filling my small tool duffle with odds and ends, I grabbed Vinnie's aviators off the counter and made a break for the door.

She'd be wanting these.

"Bye Fred!" I called absently over my shoulder to an already snoozing cat.

-0-

The day broke into a beautiful array of pale blues and wispy clouds. A breeze shifted off the water like an old friend, refreshing and familiar. The smell of salt and greasy motor oil hung above us in the open mouth of the shop. I stood tearing apart gears and cursing their design, as Vinnie handed me the required tools and told me about the previous shift's events.

"Some kid decided it would be a good idea to break into ol' daddy's liquor cabinet and take to the roof for some flyin' lessons."

I physically cringed at the mere assumed results.

"Concussion, bruised ribs and a tibia fracture." Vinnie continued, offering me an elaborate eye roll from under the brim of her tattered baseball cap. She sat reclined across both high top chairs, bare feet dangling just far enough to feel the warm licks of the overhanging sun.

"Ouch."

Before I could even ask for it, a ratchet was offered across the table. Told ya, she knew me.

I bit back a smile and forced myself to think of anything else but the taste of her caramel toned skin.

"Yup. Boy danced with Jack Daniels and got his toes stepped on." Ponytail bounced in disapproval. "Cam' couldn't believe the kid only broke his leg."

The mention of Vinnie's partner damn near made me strip the bolt I was working to unhinge. Annoyance simmered with a buzz in the back of my brain, muffling the rest of Vinnie's story.

I tried to divert my attention elsewhere. Anywhere than the thought of him. Of them.

His perfect smile and slimy charm.

I took out my frustrations on the next bolt. Then the next and the next, until I was breaking open the metal casing with a satisfying thunk.

All the while I pictured them together. Cameron being all tall and helpful, blond and attentive. Snuggled up, elbow to elbow in that ambulance all night. Sharing jokes and adrenaline pumping action. Though Vinnie often expressed their relationship was completely professional and platonic.

He has a fiancé! She countered in the past when I happened to raise an eyebrow in surprise at a certain comment he'd said to her in passing. I didn't see that walking Ken doll often but when I did my blood boiled and I was suddenly very aware of how single Vinnie was.

"Adler? Adler, are you even listening to me?" A frantic hand shifted through the amber tone of Vinnie's sunglasses, ones that I decided to wear after forgetting my own in the morning process.

"Come back from lala land, would ya? Your phone's ringin'."

I paused my imaginary fist fight with punk ass Cameron, and swiped the vibrating phone from my back pocket.

I was winning by the way..in the fight, and Vinnie was in a string bikini, cheering at the sidelines..just in case you were wondering.

"Hello?" I pinched the phone between my cheek and shoulder, continuing to work on the motor.

"Mr. Adler? This is Gloria Davis, Principle at Mary's school." A professional female greeted in a not so thrilled tone.

My face fell.

A clammer of feet skirted around the workbench and soon Vinnie was perched on the table's edge, craning to hear. Cheek to cheek we listened as the principal explained Mary's outburst and advised it would be best if she was picked up for the day.

Vin reared back, sending a defeated huff towards the tin ceiling. Without thinking my hand grazed her bare thigh, squeezing the supple muscles in reassurance.

"I understand, sorry about that. We'll be right there."

Click.

I fought the urge to throw the plastic brick into the water. Frustration brewed in the pit of my stomach. I pitched forward, both hands planted on either side of Vinnie, my forehead rolling over her shoulder.

"She couldn't even make it through half a day." I groaned into Vinnie's pulse. Another breeze wafted from the dock and tickled wisps of curls against my ear.

My whirling thoughts distracted me from acknowledging our close proximity. I focused solely on the scent of the women glued to me and the soft nails that toyed in the stubbled hair at the base of my neck. I took comfort in the mixture of coconut cream and sunshine. My head rose and fell with Vinnie's deep, cleansing breath.

We may have only sat there a moment, tangled in each other, but I could have stayed there for an eternity.

This time it was Vinnie who talked me down from the ledge.

"We did the right thing. She just has to get adjusted. It'll take time." A kiss found the shell of my ear and whispered "Stop wallowin', Adler. We have a tyrant to pick up."

I struggled to swallow the exhausted laugh that intertwined with my second groan. Vinnie's encouraging pushes were the only thing that uprooted me from my spot.


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