Over the next three weeks, Lenny and Jade developed a routine. Jade would get up and get ready, then leave for work just as Lenny was getting up. Lenny would get home first, since they actually worked the same hours, his job was just closer. When Jade got home they'd eat then just do whatever. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and for a few hours on Sundays, the rest of the band would come over and rehearse, then they'd have concerts on Fridays at clubs in Seattle. While the band was playing a gig, Jade was at races since she wasn't old enough to be in clubs.

Over the three weeks, Jade started moving her stuff into Lenny's on a more permanent basis. Courtney came over to visit when she could, usually on Saturday or Sunday after mass since she's still in school. Then Halloween came around. It's on a Saturday this year, and the church is doing it's regular overnighter. First, they'd meet up at the church and split into their groups for transportation, then they'd go through the corn maze. After that, everyone would go to Todd's house for pizza and cocoa. At 11:30 they'd leave and go to the bowling alley, where everyone would moonlight bowl until 2:00. After bowling was over, they'd go back to the church and pretty much just hang out. There'd be board games going, video games, movie and a few miscellaneous other activities all going at one time.

It was just supposed to be a fun thing for the teens and early-twenties people to go to socialize – with supervision of course – but it's more Jade. She'd first met Lenny at a Halloween allnighter. She'd ridden in his car and they'd kept each other from falling on their asses through the cornmaze; they'd beat each other at various games, then when they got tired, they'd curl up together under a big blanket and watch movies 'till Todd came through the sanctuary and have everyone put the pews back in rows at about 6:30 so they'd be ready for mass at seven. Jade always helps put the pews back then goes and sleeps in Len's car until mass is over, at which point they just go back to his house and crash in bed and sleep for hours. This year would be Jade and Len's third allnighter, and both were in high spirits when the day finally came.

Well, Jade was in high spirits – then she emptied out her backpack to use for the night and found a piece of paper at the bottom. That's when she remembered that she hadn't set her birth certificate down, but it had disappeared somewhere between running into her room and running back out. She simply stared at it. That one slip of paper that was sitting on top of her clothes where it had landed when she'd upturned the bag. Jade had no idea how long she just sat there, staring, but it ended abruptly when Len came into the room and asked if she was ready to go. She didn't even answer him, just looked at him then went back to staring at the paper.

"What's that?" Lenny asked, almost worriedly. He stepped toward the bed to look, then a sudden realization dawned on his face. He sat down on the bed next to Jade and asked, "Do you want to me here or not?"

After he didn't get an answer, he began to stand up to leave, when Jade whispered, "Stay. Please?" and looked at him with pleading eyes. He nodded. Jade reached out and pulled the paper to her, then they both started reading silently to themselves.

Certificate of Birth

For:

Desiree Jade Torretto

Mother:

Yolandi O'Conner

Father:

Antonio Torretto

Date of Birth:

December 20, 1985

City of Birth:

Los Angeles, CA

Delivered By: Dr. David Sorenson, MD Los Angeles County Hospital

I know this is painfully short, but I can't think of anything to write that wouldn't sound cheesy after that little revelation.