A/N: Alrighty then - time for thankyous! KangarooGirl, betty-boop, leslienicolespeaks, takerlover21, Jet and Dani - thanks for reviewing the last chapter and thankyou to whoever just read as well. Feedback means the world to me.

Also, i'm going to take this opportunity to pimp a new fic i have out - its called What It's Worth and its a Jesse fic, so go take a look if that interests you.

Leon chewed at his fingernails, stubbing his toe against the cracked concrete as he waited for Bethany out the front of the mall. He promised her that morning that he'd pick her up at three o'clock sharp and had arrived a few minutes early just to be safe. She was going to ditch her friends and go to visit Jesse's grave with him. Since Ruby had left she'd been spending a lot of time with him and he wasn't sure he'd have managed without her or Angie around to keep him from falling over the edge. He missed his son and he missed Ruby – he even missed the baby. Although he could call and talk to Cade whenever his heart desired he knew he was in no fit state to take care of him at the moment – Vince had done the right thing taking him back to LA with him. Cade deserved someone who could take care of him and give him the proper care he deserved. Leon was confident that Vince and Tala were capable of doing just that and knew that his little boy – his lifeline – was safe with them.

Leaning back against the passenger side door, he ran his fingers through his hair, sighing deeply before looking at his watch. Any minute now Bethany was going to come strolling through those big glass doors, a pretty smile on her face just for him and that look in her eyes that he'd come to know over the past two months. That 'I'm worried about you' look. He was supposed to be the big brother but she was the one taking care of him most of the time now. Now he knew how pathetic and useless Vince had felt those few years ago before Tala had come into his life. Depending on someone other than yourself was hard on the ego.

He was dying for a cigarette. It had been three weeks since he'd started trying to give up smoking and he was now down to the point where a pack of twenties would last him a week. Before that wouldn't have even lasted the morning before he'd need to go and get more. He was amazed at the amount of money he was saving by giving up. He was back to chewing toothpicks and gum, almost constantly trying to rid himself of the 'filthy habit'. Ruby hated it. He'd caught her hiding his lighter once or twice in hopes that he'd cut down and now that he was, she wasn't there to see it. She wasn't around to be proud of him and run her ringed fingers through his hair as she held him.

He'd tried, he really had. Every day he'd gone into the Spa in hopes of someone telling him something – anything – about her and the baby but nobody would tell him anything at all. He wasn't even sure if she was still in touch with anyone there. She'd never really mentioned having any friends at work, then again he'd never really asked her about it.

"No wonder she left so quickly," he muttered under his breath, "- she thought I never cared anyway." He mentally berated himself for being such an arrogant bastard to her during their time together. He really did care for her, he just didn't know how to show it or let her know how he felt. At the time he hadn't realised she didn't know. Now though, Leon knew Ruby had left thinking he hated her and didn't want a thing to do with her or their baby… It couldn't be further from the truth. He was mad about her and without Ruby around to be his rock he was realising just how much he'd depended on her to keep him sane.

His stomach rumbled slightly, protesting the lack of food in it but he ignored it. He didn't feel like eating now – nor yesterday or the day before that. He really couldn't be bothered with it, not when everything he put in his mouth tasted like cardboard. He couldn't remember the last time something had tasted good. Wait – tell a lie – the last time something had tasted good was the day before he and Ruby had fought, when she'd made some chocolate cake which she'd then fed to him, her thumb gently brushing the crumbs from his chin. Back before he'd messed it all up and lost her for good. She'd been so vibrant those few weeks before he'd found out about the baby.

Thinking back to what Vince had said the day he'd come for Cade, Leon started to beat himself up yet again when he realised he had been right. Ruby had kept it to herself because she was afraid of him – he scared her so much that she had kept that from him and hadn't had the chance to enjoy the first five months of her pregnancy.

A hand on his arm startled him into looking up and he was met with a concerned looking Bethany, trying to both comfort him and juggle the numerous bags in her hands at the same time. He immediately sprung into action.

"Here," he reached out to take some of her bags from her, "-let me." Despite her protests he wrestled them from her fingers and headed toward the back of the car, popping the trunk.

"Did you have a good time?" he asked softly, not looking up at her as he spoke. He didn't want to see the look of pity in her eyes as she looked at him.

"I did, yeah," she answered just as quietly. He hadn't been himself – even if he wasn't himself to begin with – since Ruby had left. Any of the light that had started to appear in his eyes had faded once she left and he was slowly wasting away, hiding further and further inside himself. "Did you go into the spa today?"

Leon slowly shook his head, unlocking the car for her to climb in. "Not since two weeks ago. She doesn't want me any more, Bethy. I can't pester her into it. I fucked up and now I have to live with it."

Bethany paused as she was halfway into the car, looking over the roof at him. She had a sudden idea and climbed back out, closing the door and smiling at Leon's confused expression.

"I forgot," she started, "-I left my purse with Shelley when I went to get a soda. I just need to run back in and get it." It was a blatant lie as she was in fact holding her purse in her hand, but Leon was either too wrapped up in his thoughts or just not paying attention and he nodded slightly.

"I'll wait here then."

She shot him a bright smile before turning on her heel and running back inside, heading straight for the beauty spa where Ruby had worked previously. She swore she almost heard heralding trumpets when she pushed the heavy doors open and saw the big black lady manning the counter. She was always nice to them and she even seemed to sympathise with Leon sometimes.

Huffing and puffing, Bethany leaned over the counter trying to catch her breath, much to Cecile's amusement.

"You alright there, child?"

Nodding, Bethany fanned herself lightly, then smiled at the older woman. "My big brother, Leon – he comes in here sometimes asking about Ruby.."

The look of utter relief on Cecile's face gave her a quiet feeling of hope.

"Thank the lord – I was starting to think somethin had happened to the boy." She reached beneath the counter and pulled out a small appointment card, scribbling a number on it before holding it out to her. "I spoke to Ruby a few days ago – she wants him to have this."

Bethany almost dived across the counter and hugged the woman, but instead settled for bouncing up and down on the spot.

"Oh thankyou so much – he's been so miserable lately. He thinks she doesn't want him after what happened."

Cecile smiled, "So does she – kids these days actin all stupid when they're just scared – I'll never understand em." She waved her off lightly. "Go on now, go give your brother that number and tell him to call our girl. She'll love to hear from him."

Giving Cecile one last smile, Bethany headed back out toward the car and once she was there, climbed in brandishing her purse.

"Got it!"

Leon nodded, glancing over at her before leaning forward and starting the car, heading out toward the cemetery to visit Jesse.

Bethany cursed aloud as she saw Marissa come strolling up the yard, discretely looking out the corner of her eye toward where Leon was sitting on the porch swing. Ever since she'd found out Ruby wasn't around any more she had taken it upon herself to be the one to eventually 'comfort' Leon. So far her every attempt had been met with stony silence or him getting up and walking away from her. Two whole months and he'd not said a word to her to make her back off – he'd just ignored her.

She wasn't sure which she was more comfortable with – Leon's anger or his silence. He had made it more than clear that he loathed the girl, as most people did, but lately he'd not been trying to discourage her at all. He'd just sit there as she waffled on at him.

Marissa, completely bypassing her altogether, made a bee line for Leon and sat beside him on the swing, her hand coming out to rest on this thigh.

"Hi Leon!"

He slowly turned to look at her, just staring then looked down at her hand on his leg. "Move your hand before I break your fingers." He said slowly, still staring at her hand on his leg.

Marissa laughed, high pitched giggling that grated on the nerves at the best of times.

"You don't mean that now," she left her hand there, frowning as he shifted and moved further along the seat. Shrugging, she followed and sidled up close to him, invading his personal space. The only person Bethany had ever seen do that and get away with it had been Ruby – she was the only person Leon had ever allowed near him like that.

Bethany could see a potential blow up developing and rose to her feet, waving Leon over to her.

"Coming in, Le?" She ignored the filthy look that Marissa shot her. She was tired of the girl being a hanger on, not giving up while she was ahead and getting the hint. She'd been told many times to get lost and not bother returning, but she always did. Bethany could quite easily say she almost hated the girl now.

Ignoring Marissa, Leon climbed to his feet and headed toward Bethany, not really paying attention to where he was going or anything around him. He was a miserable mess, even more so after visiting Jesse that afternoon.

He'd just reached out to slip his hand into Bethany's waiting one when Marissa felt it necessary to pipe up and speak.

"She never deserved you, you know. She was a crazy, strange bitch who was only using you to get what she wanted and as soon as she did – gone."

He stopped still, his hand falling short of taking Bethany's. Slowly, he turned on his heel and fixed Marissa with a darker look than any of them had ever seen on his face before.

"Never," he started softly, "-ever – talk about the woman I LOVE that way AGAIN!" Both Bethany and Marissa jumped at the deep, bellowing growl that bubbled up his throat as he spoke, the intense anger in his voice. Not even realising he'd stomped off inside, Bethany jumped as he slammed the door and then, startled out of her stupor, started giggling.

Marissa however was not amused. "And just what is so funny?" she snapped, glaring at the blonde with a haughty look on her face.

Clapping now, Bethany bounced on the balls of her toes and giggled madly. "I knew it!" Completely ignoring her unwanted guest, she darted inside after Leon to give him Ruby's phone number. He needed to talk to her – desperately.