A/N: As always, I'd like to thank those who reviewed: The bestest friend in the whole world - Ms Fi, leslienicolespeaks, betty-boo, Jet, scorching-reality, nascargirl and Torquebabe. A big thanks to those who read but didn't review too. On with the update now!

Leon's head rested in Ruby's lap as she ran her fingers through his hair, absently watching the TV. He was fairly quiet now – aside from the little incident earlier when Bethany arrived home with some friends. They had no sooner walked in the front door and Marissa had been at the door and starting toward Leon. He'd seen her approaching and hurled the nearest hard object at her – his hiking boot. She had shrieked, the lamp had been smashed – Angie had come running, closely followed by Vince and Tala.

Leon had been on his feet and ready to lunge at the girl before Ruby had been able to stop him – it was with much effort that she managed to wrap her hands around his arm and wrangle him into submission. All the excitement had only proved to make his headache worse and shortly after he had been sick. Thankfully he'd had the smarts to get to the bathroom first and Ruby had sat behind him on the tile floor rubbing his lower back while he retched, her forehead resting between his shoulder blades. Cade was definitely his father's son – Leon reacted the same way to too much coffee as Cade did to chocolate. Now she knew why he got so upset that day Cade had been sick – he knew what he was going through.

Leaning down, Ruby pressed her lips to his brow, her fingers gently working through the tangles in his hair. He blinked up at her, miserable and tired. His eyes were bloodshot and he was pale. She gave him a soft smile and pressed a light kiss over his mouth.

"Lose the shirt, precious." She told him lightly, helping him ease out of the blue t-shirt, slipping it up and over his head as he sat limply. As soon as it was off he laid back down and Ruby resumed stroking his hair, watching him. "If you're going to go to sleep, Le, let me get comfortable first."

He sat up slowly and waited for her to arrange herself on her back then he laid back down with his head on her shoulder, arm curled around her waist.

Ruby nuzzled against the top of his head, dropping a kiss against it then turned her eyes back to the TV. They had come into his room after the Marissa incident, Leon apologising profusely to Angie for the broken lamp and the motherly woman reassuring him that she hated it anyway. Tala had assured Ruby that they didn't mind being left with Angie – Vince had already taken to her and they both wanted to get to know the woman who had given Leon the means to get to LA when he was a teenager after just two days of knowing him.

"You still awake, precious?" she asked after ten minutes. He nodded against her shoulder, sighing as his fingers flexed against her hip.

"I feel like shit." He grumbled, shifting his head from her shoulder so she could turn onto her side. He automatically moved his leg so she could curl against him and draped it back over hers once she was comfortable.

Her fingers ran through his hair, brushing it from his face. "Then you can remember this next time you substitute coffee for cigarettes." She smiled at his disgusted groan, cuddling him to her. "You're going to have to face him sooner or later, Le. He seems understanding – but I don't think he's going to let you run away from this."

Leon nodded. "I've been such a pain," he started, his voice quiet, " – I don't know if I can ever make it up to them."

Ruby brushed her thumb across his cheek. "Let yourself be happy, Leon." She kissed the tip of his nose and draped her arm around his neck, then quietly started humming a soft lullaby she'd taken to using with Cade when he stayed over.

Leon's eyes closed and he finally drifted off to sleep, securely wrapped around the red head.

Vince took a step back from the doorway and looked at his feet. He felt dirty – like he'd just intruded on a private moment between lovers, but at the same time he felt reassured. He'd asked where Leon's room was with the intention of seeing how Leon was doing after earlier and when he'd found it he'd been more than stunned to see Leon curled up with the odd young woman who jingled with every step.

He leaned forward and peered back in the door – his shoulders slumping slightly when he saw Leon fast asleep while Ruby's ringed fingers ran through his hair, her lips resting against his forehead as she quietly hummed. They were entwined together and Vince knew that if she even moved Le would wake and probably not return to sleep, so as quietly as he could he tapped on the door to get her attention.

Bright green eyes turned in his direction and she smiled. "Hey." She said softly, "Woken any firemen lately?"

He shook his head, silently laughing. "No," he whispered, coming to stand by the bed, "-you?"

Ruby lifted a brow. "Well I haven't been to Wisconsin lately so it doesn't really matter, does it?"

Vince rolled his eyes and reached toward the bedside lamp that dimly lit the room. Ruby saw his intention and gave him a grateful smile.

"I was just wondering how I was going to manage that," she fell silent as Leon shifted in sleep and made a quiet sound, then settled again, "- thankyou, Vince."

He looked at her for a moment, then nodded and leant over her to touch Leon's head briefly. He looked at him for a moment then drew his hand back, and reached for the lamp again, this time flicking it off. The room fell into darkness save for the beam of light coming from the open doorway and he carefully made his way back around the bed to leave. He was almost at the door when Ruby called out to him in a whisper.

He turned back. "Yeah?"

"You smell nice." She told him quietly, the grin on her face evident in her tone. He shook his head and started out the door, pausing to look back at her. She grinned at him and he shook his head again, then eased the door closed.

He smirked, starting down the hall toward the living room. "That girl's nuts."

"You should hear her rant on the importance of music."

Vince jumped at the sound of the voice behind him and turned, looking down at the blonde teenager standing there in her Scooby Doo pyjamas. He recognised her from earlier and frowned, taking a step back.

"Who're you?" he asked abruptly.

The blonde quirked a brow. "Can't half tell you two are related, can you?" she sighed and held her hand out. "My name is Bethany – Angie is my mom."

Leon had mentioned a Bethany on the phone and he instantly relaxed. He'd said nothing but kind words about her. Vince slipped his paw like hand into hers, thankful she was left handed as his arm was hurting from carrying Rory earlier and shook.

"Vince – Leon's older brother."

She smiled brightly up at him, retracting her hand from his and made a slight waving gesture with her hand.

"I'm sorry for my friends earlier," her smile wilted, "-they have little to no tact at all."

Vince watched her go from cheerful looking to a little glum and frowned. He knew she was referring to the incident with Leon in the den earlier – after Ruby had somehow managed to remove him from the room Vince had been left with Angie and the girls, Tala having gone with Le and Ruby. They'd not even been out of the room for a minute, mere seconds before the group started whispering – less than quietly. He'd been far from comfortable in the room with them and had gruffly stated he needed to watch the kids and made a hasty exit. He heard Angie's voice scolding them even as he walked through the kitchen to go and sit out back with the kids and wait for Tala to resurface.

Vince blinked and looked down at Bethany, wrapping a thick arm around her shoulder. She jumped, not expecting it and hesitantly looked up at him. He knew he looked more than a little intimidating but married life had mellowed him and he couldn't stand to see a girl miserable. He had a feeling that being around Rory so much had something to do with that.

"As long as you keep the skanky one away from me," he started, "- we have no problems."

Bethany scoffed and laughed quietly, nodding. "That's what Le said," she looked up at Vince, nothing but friendly affection on her face, "- I really am sorry though. I should be able to keep my own friends under better control."

He pulled his arm away, shrugging. "We can't control our friends, Bethany." He touched his arm and for a moment he remembered the horror of being caught on the speeding semi, then he shook his head. "All we can do is tell them to fuck off when they're being a pain in the ass."

"Wow," her tone was quiet, awed, "- you give advice a lot, don't you." A cheeky grin spread across her face and he gave her a mock glare.

"It's almost midnight – go to bed."

"Alright, alright," she backed up, turning to walk away, "-goodnight grumpy bum."

Vince glowered after her, but said nothing, shaking his head at her retreating form before starting back toward the living room once more. His pace was slow – half expecting yet another person to pop out from somewhere and scare the living hell out of him, but this time his progress was unhindered.

Tala smiled adoringly at him as he entered the room and held her hands out to him, watching him as he sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

"So how is he?"

Vince sighed and nodded, carefully stroking an errant lock of hair from her eyes and tucking it back behind her ear.

"Yeah, he's fine. Sleeping it off." He replied, distracted.

Tala turned in his arms, draping her legs across his lap. He moved to accommodate her automatically, his hand resting on her leg just above the knee, the other wrapped around her back. One of her arms slipped around his neck and her free hand stroked his cheek.

"What's the matter, big guy?"

He kissed her palm, eyes closed then dropped his head back against the back of the couch.

"I don't know what to do with him – I really don't."

"He's hurting, Vince-"

Vince's head lifted and he silenced her with a look. "It has been two years, Tala. Two fucking years of him moping around and making everyone's life hell! He needs to fucking move on!" His voice was low and hushed, but lost none of it's fire. "He's not the only one it affected for gods sake."

Tala's hand never left his face the entire time he spoke, her thumb brushing over the scratchy stubble on his cheek.

"If you lost me," she felt a rush of adoration at his stricken look, "- how would you feel?"

"Wha- No. No don't say that." His arms tightened around her and she found herself crushed to his chest.

She looked up at him. "Answer the question, Vince."

He sighed and his arms loosened, releasing her. "My world would fall out from beneath me." He answered quietly. He caught the look on her face and rolled his eyes. "Yeah – ok – so he's hurt," his hand brushed her cheek, "-but isn't two years a little long to keep hating the world?"

She slipped her legs from his lap and stood as Angie returned to the room, announcing their room was ready. The older woman bid them a hasty goodnight seeing the dark look on Vince's face and left them alone.

Tala turned back to Vince and nodded toward the hall, going ahead of him into their room for the next few weeks.

Vince closed the door behind them and immediately kicked out of his boots, tugging his shirt over his head. He threw it over by their bags and started on his belt as Tala got changed for bed.

"I fucking hate this," he muttered, pushing his jeans to his ankles, "- I want to hit him but I want to hug him too."

The small woman laughed, crawling into bed. "It's called being a sibling, Vince. You're just concerned for him."

"He's being an ass." Vince snapped.

Tala gave her husband a soft smile as she watched him ease on a light elasticised elbow guard. He must be in pain, she thought to herself. He hardly wore those unless he'd overdone it and needed that little bit if extra pressure to help ease the ache.

"You're just concerned." She repeated, as he climbed into the bed beside her.

Vince snorted. "I'm going to kill him."

She lay down beside him and rubbed the spot over his heart where he had the word 'Aurora' tattooed. The little girl loved sitting on her daddy's knee and tracing her little fingers over the cursive lettering of her name on his chest.

In a soft voice, she repeated the statement once more. "You're just concerned."

Vince turned to look at her, his blue eyes glassy and sad. "I'm worried about him."

"I know baby," she stroked his bearded cheek, the coarse hair tickling her palm, "I know you are."