A/N: Update time! Thankyou to all who read my last chapter and to those who reviewed as well. While I'm here I'm going to pimp a friends new fic. It's called "Moving On" and I think you should read it. Its fantabulous.

Song for the chapter is "Somewhere In Between" by Lifehouse.

Tala squeezed her eyes shut, her head pressed against the shower wall as she cried. Despite the water running down over her cheeks her face felt hot and sticky from her tears. Her chest hurt with every heaving sob, her lungs desperately trying for air. She never thought knowing something so horrible could hurt so much. She had always suspected that Vince had been beaten in his young life, but the news she received the night prior had completely floored her. She didn't know how he did it. How Vince managed to move on, how he managed to allow people to touch him… The thought of somebody doing that to her then someone putting their hands on her sickened her. She knew Vince was a strong man, but she never quite grasped how strong until she saw him face his father, his biggest demon, and take him head on.

The sheer brutality of his actions the night before had shocked her, but oddly enough, didn't frighten her. She had always known that if Vince was in top form he would be capable of doing some serious damage, but witnessing it herself brought a strange sense of peace over her. He would harm himself if he deemed it necessary to protect those he loved. The honest fury she had seen on his face as he proclaimed his hatred for his father had been palpable. Thinking back to the scene, Tala knew that she saw the old Vince, if only for just a short while, and even as he was beating his own father senseless she still adored him.

Vince was currently sleeping with the help of Valium, exhausted both emotionally and physically after staying up all night and telling her everything about him there was to know. Even if it was only a small incident from childhood like falling and scraping his chin on the curb, he told her. His reasoning had been simple. He wanted her to know everything about him so there were no secrets, nothing that could come between them. There had been tears, a few giggles and then even more tears.

A sudden pounding at the front door jerked her out of her misery and she quickly twisted the taps, turning the shower off.

"Just a minute!" She called down the hall, scrubbing furiously at herself with a towel, then tugged on Vince's oversized navy robe. The garment swamped her, but covered her from neck to toe sufficiently. Remembering last nights events, she peered through the peep hole and saw Leon bouncing Aurora in his arms, saying something to her with a wide smile on his face. He looked perfectly natural standing there with her in his arms, baby bag slung over his shoulder, chattering to her as if she actually cared.

She breathed a sigh of relief and unlatched the security chain on the door and unlocked it, swinging it open.

He beamed at her. "Morning!" he glanced at his watch, "Uh.. I mean afternoon." He flushed slightly, focusing on Aurora again. "You tell Mama you were such an angel last night."

Tala smiled, her heart lifting at the sight of her grinning baby girl. She held her hands out and took her.

"Thankyou, Le."

He shrugged lightly, bending to give her a kiss. "So how did it go? Are you ok? V alright?"

She waved him in, closing the door after him. "He's asleep at the moment. I gave him some Valium to help him along."

Leon frowned, sitting down beside her on the couch. He noticed the broken glass still on the floor and got up to clean it up. Tala noticed and immediately tried to stop him.

"No, Le. It's fine you don't have to-"

He gave her a look to silence her. "It's alright, shorty. Why don't you take the princess into her daddy and then come back out here and tell me whatever you need to."

She nodded meekly, knowing that Leon's word was practically law when he used that tone and gave him one last fleeting look before moving down the hall.

Pushing the bedroom door open, she stopped and just stared at her sleeping husband. Even in sleep he looked troubled, his brow creased ever so slightly

Aurora fussed, her eyes firmly fixed on Vince. Tala looked from her daughter to her husband, smiling. "You want your daddy?" the little girl's arms waved excitedly with each step closer that they got to the bed. Tala knew instantly that once she was old enough to walk, Rory would be creeping in to curl up with Vince no matter what. Her hand reached out to shake Vince slightly.

"Baby? Baby, someone's here for you."

Vince groaned, but managed to squint his eyes open just a touch. "Who?"

"Here."

He sighed contently as she placed Aurora on his chest, then slipped the sheet up over the both of them. His left arm came up to curl around her tiny form, holding her securely against him as he started to drop off again, Rory quickly following suit, lulled by his heartbeat. Tala was too scared to sleep with her like that, but once Vince was out, he didn't move until he woke up again. More often then not she would find the pair on the couch napping in that position.

There was a quiet tapping at the door and she turned to see Leon. He motioned silently toward the living room then disappeared. She quickly tugged on some clothes, then draped Vince's robe over top again.

Coming back into the living room, she noticed he had straightened everything out, righting the furniture and replacing the photo frame back on the mantle, sans glass of course.

He looked at her from the couch.

"Come sit, Sis."

The endearment rolled right off his tongue, sounding as natural as him calling Vince 'V'. Tala felt that burn start to build up in her chest again as she crawled onto the couch beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"He's in so much pain." She whispered, fighting not to break down again. She had managed to remain composed for Vince, even as he completely lost it, but there was something about the way Leon was looking right through her at that moment that made it so much more difficult.

His arm curled around her. He cleared his throat. "Letty yells at me for repressing, you know." He said softly, "She says that I'm going to hurt myself."

Tala looked up at him and noticed he was staring at the far wall. "You will one day." His smile did nothing to ease her concerns.

"I already have, Tala. But not as much as Vince." He looked down at her. "He's been holing that up inside for years. So many years that it seems incomprehensible."

She blinked at him. "Leon.. That was a six syllable word."

He chuckled. "Don't you dare tell anyone that I'm capable of intelligent thought." He threatened playfully, eyes softening. "What I'm trying to say is… He's been silent about it for so long that it's eaten a hole in him, Tal. Vince is a mess. A great big mess, and he's going to need you. He's convinced himself that you're disgusted already."

"It wasn't his fault!"

Leon rubbed her arm slightly to calm her. "I know that, you know that… I think he's beginning to realise that. But for now he needs to know that you're there. Don't pull away from him, don't shy away from touching him now that you know what's happened.."

Tala faltered slightly, giving him a nervous look. "But what if he pulls away from me?"

Leon shook his head. "He wont do that. Haven't you noticed how he goes out of his way to stay near you when we're out? I honestly don't think he would have made it this far without you."

Tala reddened, avoiding looking at him. "You give me too much credit."

Leon unwrapped his arm from around her and leaned forward. "You don't give yourself enough." He corrected, smiling slightly. "It gets worse, Tal."

"Worse? Worse how?" She sat up, knees tucked up underneath her chin.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Dominic has been looking for us. As of now, I don't think he's in town, but he's lookin."

Tala's head dropped back against the couch, eyes closed. "Jesus, Le. What is there, an asshole convention in town or something?"

He snorted, dropping his head to his knees. "That's a fairly wise bet, shorty." He tensed a little. "I don't think it's the right time to tell Vince. Give it a few days, maybe a week. Then we can tell him."

She nodded. "Im interested in giving that Mia a talking to actually. You think she'll be with him?"

"Undoubtedly. She's like a fucking bad smell. She just clings to him." Leon lifted his head slightly, smirking. "She wont be counting on you, you know. She'll come back and expect Vince to worship the ground she walks on."

With a giggle, Tala nudged him with her foot. "Vince only worships one thing, and it aint the ground she walks on."

He choked on his laughter, "Well isn't she going to get a rude shock then. So is Dom if I do my thing right."

Tala uncurled her legs, a bemused grin starting to form on her face. "Leon… Why are you smiling like that?" She could see him becoming fidgety, his fingers twisting nervously.

"Now's not really the time for it." He said hurriedly. He was almost bursting trying to keep quiet.

Tala grinned, nudging him. "Leon.. Tell me."

He looked back over his shoulder at her, biting his lip. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Honey, if it's got you this excited it must be important."

He rubbed the back of his neck, rolling his shoulders. "Letty and I are going to start trying to have a baby."

Stunned, Tala's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? You finally convinced her!"

"I'm not exactly sure what convinced her. All I know is that last night she wasn't interested, this morning she was." He trembled with barely restrained excitement. "Is it wrong for me to be so happy?"

"Of course not! You guys love each other – why wouldn't you start a family together?"

He turned to face her properly, picking up a cushion to occupy his hands so he didn't start gesticulating wildly like he did when he was over stimulated.

"See, I love her and I want a baby with her – but I'm not really interested in marriage yet."

Tala shrugged. "So don't marry her yet." She pat his trembling hands. "Concentrate on the baby thing first if that's what you both want."

He nodded furiously. "It is!"

She grinned at his exuberance. "Then explain to me why you're still here and Letty is at home I presume? Alone."

He stood up. "Actually, she's at work." He rubbed his hands together nervously. "I was thinking of going and stealing her."

Tala jumped up from the couch, giggling madly. "Brilliant idea!" She took his hands, "Go in there, claim her and take her home."

He stifled his laughter. "Throw a caveman, huh?"

She leaned up on tip toes, pecking him on the lips quickly. "Of course. It's such a turn on when a sexy guy goes all brutish on a girl. Go on, go make a baby." She grinned into his shoulder as he swept her into a hug, then waved as he darted out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him. Tala shook her head, trying not to laugh. A throat cleared behind her and she spun around, seeing Vince leaning against the wall with a naked Aurora against his chest.

"Did you just tell him to go and make a baby?"

Tala nodded. "Letty finally caved. Looks like Le's getting his dream after all."

Vince shook his head, nuzzling Rory's head. "We're having a shower. You wanna join us?"

She looked at him, his pants hanging low on his hips, their daughter pressed so close to his heart, eyes still hazed from the drugs she'd given him and almost melted. Leon's words echoed in her head. "Don't pull away from him.."

He shifted self consciously, rubbing Aurora's back. "Firefly?"

She waved him toward the bathroom. "I'll be in in a minute, big guy." She told him with a small smile. "I'll just get some stuff ready for Rory so she doesn't get cold afterwards."

He nodded, carefully shifting their small child with his good arm, his right arm oddly lame. Tala's face immediately darkened and she rushed toward him.

"Vince.."

He winced as he fingers prodded the swollen flesh. "It's alright, firefly. It doesn't really hurt."

"You're a shitty liar, Vincent."

He nodded. "I am."

She pressed her cheek against his chest so she was face to face with Aurora. Tiny fingers grabbed her nose and Tala beamed at her daughter. Her eyes rolled up to look at Vince, watching her so intently.

"You ok, big guy?

He stared at her silently for a moment. "… No."

Tala eased Aurora into her arms and balanced her on one hip, then took Vince's hand in hers. She grinned down at Rory, fussing against her and brought Vince's hand up to kiss his scarred knuckles.

"Let's go get daddy all better."