A/N: Big thankyou to Fi for her help with this chapter.. I would still be staring at a blank page if not for her. You're a gem! Thankyou to all who read and/or reviewed the last chappy.

Songs for the chapter: "Everything" by Lifehouse and "Beautiful" byAlex Lloyd

Vince looked down at Tala as she fixed his tie for him, her dainty fingers twisting the fabric between them. Her hair was pinned back into a loose up style, tiny little tendrils fallen free of the pins here and there framing her face. She had stressed about it at first until he told her she looked beautiful and he liked it better that way. He wasn't lying either. Her belly protruded out in front of her and touched his abdomen as she played with his tie, straightening it.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked her quietly, touching her face. She leaned into his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm.

"Of course I am. Vince I wanted to marry you as soon as I said yes." She held out his suit coat, helping him ease his arm into it. "Are you sure you want to wear the tie, baby? It's not a formal wedding. I want you to be comfortable."

He nodded. "I want to look decent for you." He looked down at the blue/grey silk shirt he wore, then at the single breasted charcoal black suit. "Do I look decent?"

"The only way you could look any better, V, would be if that suit was on the floor and you were naked."

From the other side of the room where she was applying a light coat of lip gloss, Letty piped in. "I have to agree with her, boo. You look gorgeous." She turned to look at him fully. "Turn around." As he turned slowly she grinned at Tala. "His ass looks fine in those pants."

"I heard that!" Leon called from the room's bathroom, appearing a moment later buttoning the cuffs on his own shirt. He was in something almost identical to Vince, only he was all in black, not a hint of colour on him whatsoever. Both women whistled and hooted and he smirked arrogantly.

"I still got it, V."

Vince laughed, shaking his head. Letty threw the lip gloss into a small evening bag and took Tala by the hand.

"We'll see you two downstairs."

Leon brushed a kiss over her mouth and pecked Tala just at the corner of her mouth, as had become habit. "Remember.. Both of you are taken."

Tala looked at her six month pregnant belly, her hand resting over the swollen bump. "I think that's obvious, Leon." She waved lightly to them as Letty pulled her out the door, the women disappearing in a flurry of chiffon and blue.

Leon glanced at Vince out the corner of his eye as he leant over his bag and plucked the gold velvet pouch containing the rings from inside, then stuffed it into the inside pocket of his jacket.

"Nervous, V? You're getting married in half an hour."

Vince shook slightly, nodding. "I can't wait, but she deserved better than this, Le."

"A Vegas wedding?"

Vince nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "She always dreamed of this beg wedding, you know? All her family behind her, fancy white dress.."

Leon crouched in front of him. "And you?"

"I always thought you would be my best man and Jesse would be right beside you. I wanted him here." He looked at his fingers, picking at the scar across his right palm where the cable had cut into it. "Her family's not even here, Le. Dad's not here."

Leon knew he was talking about Tala's dad, he would never mention their own father in that way. Vince never spoke of their father. Not that he'd want to after all the shit he had put him through.

"You know that if you invited Walter then you would have had to invite the swamp thing." His lip curled in a snarl when he thought of Tala's mother. He had met her once and as far as he was concerned it was one time too many. Satan had nothing on that woman. He shook his head, clearing it of all hostile thoughts and looked up at Vince.

"- And as far as Jesse's concerned, he's here Vince. Don't you worry about that. He wouldn't miss this for the world."

The bigger man straightened slightly. "You think?"

"I think he would be more nervous for you than you are, V." he laughed, envisioning it. "Alright? You need somethin to drink?"

"Can I have a jack?" He asked quietly, eyes trained on the floor as Leon moved to get it for him. He accepted the glass a moment later. "Thanks."

"What's up, V? You're too quiet. Even for you."

Vince downed half the contents of the glass, pressing the chilled surface against his cheek. "I'm getting married, Leon." He looked up. "I'm getting married and my first baby is on it's way." He loosely clenched his right hand against his thigh.

Leon frowned. "You don't want to get married and have kids?" He was confused. Vince had been so excited about both the baby and his impending vows.

"I don't deserve any of this." He murmured. "I've done so many horrible things in my life, Le. I don't deserve to be so blessed."

In a move that he hadn't done in what seemed like years, Leon pressed his head to Vince's hunched over back and wrapped his arm around him.

"This is your second chance, Vincent. It's our second chance. We've got ourselves good women, you've got your baby. Don't question it. You've been through hell this past year, Vince. Don't you dare say you don't deserve happiness."

Vince was quiet. "… I'm scared, Le." He turned to look at him, leaning into the hug. "What if I'm a bad husband? I don't want to be like dad."

Leon only knew about his father the things Vince had told him during one of his then infamous drunken stupors a few years earlier, and the occasional thing his mother had told him. Vince had always visited them when it was time, never the other way around. As far as he knew his father was an abusive alcoholic, that was the extent of his knowledge. From the sounds of things though, he was much worse than just that.

"Vince? What did he do-" Vince jerked away from him, shaking his head.

"No! Just no, Leon!" He had backed himself into a wall, eyes closed, expression guarded. Leon nodded slowly, stunned at his little outburst.

"Ok. I wont ask again. I promise." He offered, placating the big man. He held his hands up innocently. "Calm down. You want another jack?"

Vince nodded tightly, immediately gulping the alcohol down as soon as it was in his hand. He stared at Leon wordlessly for some time. Finally, he slumped and rubbed his face slowly. "I'm sorry, Le."

Leon shook his head. "It was nothing." He said quietly. He glanced at the clock. "Ten minutes, V."

Vince took a deep breath and nodded, standing up straighter now. "I'm marrying her."

"The love of your life."

Vince grinned, "Damn fuckin straight." He motioned to the door. "Shall we?"

Leon patted the pocket with the rings in it, making sure they were still there. "Let's go, Vince."

Vince carefully tucked the sheet up over Tala, leaving one foot exposed to the cool air in the bedroom so she didn't over heat. She stirred slightly, but didn't wake, her arm coming up to curl around his pillow. He wasn't quite sure how she could sleep curled on her belly that way, with it protruding and all, but regardless, to him she had never looked more stunning.

It hadn't taken long for all those tiny little pins to come out of her hair. She was growing irritated with them not staying in place and he was becoming frustrated with touching the small pieces of metal every time he went to run his hand through her hair. They had stood just outside the chapel after the ceremony plucking them from all over the place. He had helped his wife destroy that elegant little hair style that someone had taken a great deal of time arranging.

Vince grinned, touching the warmed metal around his finger with his thumb. He was a husband now. He had a wife. He looked at her as she shifted in her sleep, the sheet sliding to expose her caramel skinned thigh, her leg bent at the knee and propped in front of her. I have a beautiful wife, he mentally corrected himself.

She whimpered in her sleep, her brow creasing slightly. All it took was a light touch and she was resting peacefully again, a small smile on her face. In sleep, her hand slid down to rest protectively over their child. Another surprise. She had waited up until they arrived back in LA and were safely inside the apartment before telling him she had caved and asked to find out the sex.

He had been floored. They had agreed that it should be a surprise, the sex of the baby.

Vince sat with his back propped against the headboard, his hand stroking Tala's head where it now rested on his thigh. As soon as she had told him what the baby was he knew what he wanted to name her. Her. His little princess.

Aurora Leigh would be her name, Rory for short. Aurora being his mother's middle name, Leigh being Tala's.

The mere thought of being a father both terrified and elated him. He was looking forward to meeting his little girl, kissing her, singing her to sleep, teaching her everything he could, but at the same time he was deathly afraid of failing her. He had fucked up so many things in this life and this was one thing he couldn't bear being bad at. His eyes firmly planted on Tala's belly, the fear intensified. It wouldn't be long until he met her, his little miracle. He wouldn't be able to hold her properly like a father should and that didn't sit well with him. His stomach twisted in knots just thinking about not being able to protect her to his liking.

"Vince stop thinking so loud." Tala's voice grumbled against his thigh, her cheek rubbing against the hairs on his leg. He touched her head.

"Sorry, firefly." He mumbled sheepishly. She looked up at him, her ringed fingers drumming against his leg.

"What's the matter, V? You look all forlorn and broody like," she pushed herself upright, curling herself against his side. "Having second thoughts?"

He shook his head furiously. "No! God, no!" His finger intertwined with hers, their rings fitting neatly side by side. He smiled, resting his head against hers. "We match."

"Damn right we match," she touched his hand. "If this ring comes off you die. Ok?"

He chuckled. "Alright," his mouth brushed a small kiss over her brow, "My darling wife."

Her face was buried in his neck, her laughter muffled. "How long is that going to last?"

"What? Me calling you my darling wife?"

She looked up at him, eyes sparkling with happiness. "Yes. How long must I endure this torture?"

He tapped her on the end of the nose, smiling. "For the rest of your life. You're not getting rid of me now." He leaned down and laid a loud, smacking kiss over her belly. "That goes for you too, princess. All mine." He looked up startled when he heard Tala sniffling. "What's wrong?"

Big fat tears rolled down her face, her nose already slightly pink. "I love you so much… You just.. and I.. " she buried her face in her hands, audibly crying now.

Vince pulled her to him. "Aw, don't cry," his chin rested on top of her head as he rocked her, "My darling wife."

There was a loud, less than masculine scream that filled the room as Tala's hand firmly connected with his bare stomach. She perused the almost glowing red hand print on his skin with an expression of pride.

"My pig of a husband."