'Ello me freaky darlin's…

Welcome ta th' nex' installmen' of Love at First Bite…

Jus' ta warn ye I' migh' be a wee bi' long… A whole ten pages in 'Word'

Now fer th' shou'ou's ta me reviewers…

Aqua Aussie: I'm glad ye think I can be funny, I' probably 'elps tha' I 'ave written mos' of the story in the early 'ours of th' mornin'… I also am enjoyin' both of 'A New Member' and 'How to Become a Don'...

Scott: I am glad I 'ave th' suppor' of fans like ye… I 'ope ye like this chapter…

Disclaimer: Sadly I don' own Shark Tale (I wan' ta), all I own is Leila and Eddie and the Tiger sharks…

The summer sun shone brightly above, brightening the reef and everyone's afternoon, except for one frustrated shark.

Leila smirked happily to herself as she prowled down the halls. "I still got it." She started humming to herself. She had finally pulled the slip on Eddie by losing him in the kitchen.

Now she had time to search for her prey. Three weeks had already passed and she was no closer to finding the Don's son than winning the lottery. "Stupid Vinny." She growled. He had caused her to drop the picture Carvati had given her of the Don's son during the fight with Vinny. She was beginning to lose what little patience she had.

Most of her injuries had healed, although her ribs were almost healed, they were still quite tender. She also had had trouble sleeping, being haunted by nightmares of a dark laughing shark.

She grumbled tiredly around the corner her eyes focused on the floor, her mind wandering when she collided with a shark in the hall.

Leila growled and rubbed her head. "Hey, I'm swimming here." She looked up to see Lenny rubbing his head.

"Oh it's just you, Lenny." She smirked at the nervous shark." I thought you might of been that pain in the tail, Eddie or any of the others. They act like they never seen a sharkess before."

"Ow." Lenny turned to Leila and gulped. "Oh uh… H-hi L-L-Leila." Once again he started to blush as he stared into her fierce violet eyes.

She chuckled and lightly gasped. Her fin wandered to her still bandaged side, which was stabbing lightly. Her tired eyes wandered to his green ones.

I'm-m-m j-just gonna to g-go n-n-now." He stuttered, still blushing, and opened the nearest door and went in.

"Lenny that's a closet." She said as she hid her smirk and snickers. She opened the door to see a very red, and a rather embarrassed Lenny.

Leila raised an eyebrow and leaned in the doorway of the closet. "Hi, did you enjoy your trip?" She shook her head stopping herself from laughing and started to turn away.

Lenny took a deep breath. "Leila?"

Leila looked at Lenny, fire dancing in her violet eyes. "Yeah?"

Lenny rubbed the back of his neck. "W-w-would y-you, u-uh, c-can y-y-you…"

"I hope I'm not interrupting something." Eddie growled finally catching up with Leila, a sly smirk on his face.

Leila rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "No you weren't. Now if you'll excuse me." She shoved pass Eddie. "I'm heading to the deck for a bit of sunbathing." She turned and swam for the deck, the white spot on her tail catching the light.

Eddie rolled his eyes and turned to Lenny. "I still don't trust her." He stared at the sharkess' retreating tail. "I would watch out for her if I were you." He growled and followed his ward onto the deck.

Lenny watched as Eddie went after Leila. He leaned against the wall sighed. Again his nerves got the better of him.

Whatcha' doin' tonight
I wish I could be a fly on your wall
Are you really alone

He started to swim through the hall. He sighed and peered out the porthole, watching Leila on the deck fighting with Eddie. Lenny rested his head on his fin as he watched her growling at Eddie and laying out on her lounge chair.

Who's stealin' your dreams
Why can't I bring you into my life
What would it take to make you see that I'm alive

Every time he had came close to actually talking to her he would get all jittery around her, or Eddie would come and chase her away.

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I'd make you mine tonight

Lenny watched Leila, her strong sleek form relaxing in her chair. Her violet eyes burning in his mind, haunting him even in his sleep.

If hearts were unbreakable
Then I could just tell you where I stand
I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible
(Wait..I already am)

For the first week Leila spent most of her time either in her room or on the deck ignoring everything around her. She had nipped a few of the other sharks that had tried to win her over when he didn't try and pursue her.

Saw your face in the crowd
I call out your name
You don't hear a sound

When Lenny always tried to talk to her, she simply stared at him, with an eyebrow raised. He stumbled over his words and couldn't even get a word out in edgewise. He would growl in aggravation and swim away, leaving Leila watching him retreat with a confused look on her face.

I keep tracing your steps
Each move that you make
Wish I could read what goes through your mind
Wish you could touch me with the colors of your life

Lenny pounded his head on the wall, trying to think of someway to get Leila to actually notice him and do more than just say hi to him. Of course Eddie had convinced him not to tell her that he was Lino's son.

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I'd make you mine tonight

So he wasn't like any of the other sharks. He wasn't the strongest, bravest, or handsomest in the bunch, but like his father has always told him, he had the brains in the family.

If hearts were unbreakable
Then I can just tell you where I stand
I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible
(Wait..I already am)

He stopped pounding his head and let his mind drift back to Leila. She was different form all the sharkesses he ever met. She was toned with muscle, and never seemed to back out of a fight she could win. She was smart, sarcastic as hell( Especially towards Eddie), and cunning. But as she was scarred, she still held a natural beauty that needed no makeup.

I reach out
But you don't even see me
Even when I scream out

He felt like screaming out to her. If only he could just break the ice with her, then he would be okay. He just needed an opportunity.

Baby, you don't hear me
I am nothing without you
Just a shadow passing through...

An opportunity to just get to know her. Then perhaps he might have a chance, but he had to try soon. Since he hadn't as Eddie called it. 'Move in for the Kill', the other single sharks had started to try to entice her, but most of them swam away with black eyes.

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I'd make you mine tonight

The only shark Leila seemed to react to is a mere mention of a Tiger, and it would send her into a defensive mode.

If hearts were unbreakable
Then I can just tell you where I stand
I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible

Then suddenly, without warning a mental Anglerfish lit up in his mind. A plan had begun to form.

Wait... I already am

He needed help. Lenny found a phone and dialed the number of the one fish that might be able to help…

"Lenny, Yo Lenny." Oscar shouted, swimming on the deck. "Where are you? You call me, then you're not here." He continued to swim along the deck….

Leila was lightly dozing in her chair when she heard shouting, she growled and pulled down her shades. She felt the vibrations in her Lateral Line from something swimming nearby. She lifted her nose in the water sniffed.

"Hmmm, fish." She purred, licking her lips. Her eyes turned cold. "Finally, fresh meat." She glanced at Eddie leaning against the liner's rail half-asleep. Leila smirked and began to stalk her prey…

Oscar swam past the broken porthole and saw Eddie half-dozing on the railing by an empty lounge chair. "Yo Eddie!" Oscar shouted, waking up the tired shark.

Eddie blinked and yawned. "Hey O, what's up? I must of…" He looked at the empty lounge chair. "Oh kelp. Where is she?"

"Where's who?" Oscar asked.

Eddie froze. "Don't move." He said out of the side of his mouth. "Don't make any sudden movements."

"You're tripping man. I'm gonna look for Lenny…" He stopped as everything around them went quiet.

"Eddie…" Oscar started, staring to back up when he was stopped by a mass. He looked up and saw the glittering of triangular teeth.

"AAHH!" Oscar screamed as he took off swimming for the doors. Leila smirk and chased after her prey and cut off Oscar's exit. He crashed into Leila's nose.

Leila crossed her eyes to stare at Oscar clinging to her nose. She shook her head angrily, tossing Oscar towards the bow of the liner.

Leila growled and pounced at the terrified fish. As her jaws were about to close on the fish, she felt something ram into her sore side, knocking her away from the fish.

She was pulled up and was pushed against the wall. Leila didn't fight, her world spinning with starfish around her head. She shook the haze away and growled at the shark holding her. Her eyes narrowed at Lenny, who had heard the commotion on the deck, floating on the deck with Oscar hiding behind his bulk.

Leila snapped at Eddie holding her against the wall. "What's the big idea?" She bared her teeth. "Let me go, we'll spilt him. What do you want? Heads or tails."

"We're not e-e-eating h-him." Lenny said gulping and staring into Leila's eyes, burning with bloodlust.

"Why not?" She struggled against Eddie's grip. "So what, he's just a morsel." She lunged at Oscar, who ducked his head back behind Lenny. "Where I come from: no shark turns down fresh meat, no matter the size."

"He's m-my b-best f-f-friend." He stuttered, then waited for Leila to break into laughter.

Leila stopped struggling and stared at Lenny with an arched eyebrow. "Your best friend's a fish?" She asked confused.

"Y-y-yeah." He stuttered, looking away from Leila.

"Your best friend's a fish." She pulled free of Eddie's fins and shrugged. "Well, nobody's perfect, sometimes you need inside help, so lets go raid the reef then!" She charged.

"No!" Eddie and Lenny shouted, grabbing Leila's tail.

Leila growled and turned to face the two, or three including the Wrasse fish. "What's the big idea? What's your problem? You're a shark, It's in your blood to hunt."

"Well." Eddie pulled Leila back. "It's in my blood, but…" He jerked his head to Lenny. "I'm not sure about Len here, it must have skipped him or something."

Leila flicked her tail and broke the sharks' grip on her tail. She looked at Lenny with an arched eyebrow and a look of confusion. "What are you talking about.? Is there something I need to know around here?"

Lenny laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. Leila crossed her fins and drummed the tips. "Well, spill it, or do need to take it out of you?"

"You'll laugh."

"No I won't."

"Yes you'll will."

"Try me." She put her fins on her hips. " Swear on my honor I won't laugh."

Lenny gulped. I'm-I'm-I'm a-a-a-a V-v-vegetarian." He flinched, waiting for the recoil.

Leila blinked and kept a straight face without a hint of amusement. She sighed in relief. "Good. Is that all? That doesn't surprise me."

"Wha'…" Eddie asked dumbstruck expecting the tiger-raised White to break down laughing.

She shook her head and smirked. "I was always told Whites were a bit off. I was raised by Tigers. Nothing surprises me anymore. But…" she threw herself at Lenny, a look of fear in her face. "Just please tell me, not everyone's a vegetarian here, are they?" Her eyes were filled with fear. "I need meat."

Lenny floated there with the sharkess grasping him in a death grip. He shook his head. "N-n-no."

Leila sighed and leaned in on Lenny. "Good I was scared there for a bit." She pulled away from Lenny. "Now since I can't hunt on the reef, there is meat in the kitchen, right?"

Lenny looked down and nodded nervously at her.

"Now…" She pulled away from Lenny and twisted her head and neck causing a gut wrenching crack. Eddie, Lenny, and Oscar shivered at the sound. "If you'll excuse me gentlefish," She shoved past Eddie. "Lenny." she said dipping her head towards him. "I'm off to raid the unsuspecting kitchen." She flicked her tail and swam for the doors into the ship.

'And find Don Lino's stash of liquor while I'm at it too.' She smirked to herself as she started her search for the elusive kitchen…

"She just went through about seven different moods, and she calls us off." Eddie cracks his neck, almost alike to Leila. "The sooner we get rid of her the better off I'll feel."

Oscar poked his head from behind Lenny. "Is she gone?"

"Yeah she's gone." Eddie growled stretching his fins. "I think your safe as long as you don't go into the kitchen, hopefully Leila won't introduce herself like that again." He started to follow the sharkess.

"Uh Oscar?" He smiled sheepishly at his fishy friend.

Oscar glared at Lenny. "You trippn' man. You bring me down here to be chewed by some crazy woman. You're crazy man."

Eddie eyes widened slightly at Oscar's sudden outburst and paused and turned around to watch.

"I'm not that crazy." Lenny said.

"I disagree." Eddie added raising his fin. "It was your idea to bring her here in the first place."

"Now what was so important that it almost got me swallowed?" Oscar asked, still annoyed by his near-death experience.

"I need your help." Lenny said turning away and rubbing the back of his neck.

"What is it: Johnny buggin' ya again." Oscar said rolling his eyes. "Just send Eddie after him, he'll take care of that Orca."

"No. I need your experience on this."

Eddie snorted. "What experience is that?"

"With women." Lenny mumbled.

Eddie and Oscar looked at each other and Oscar held out his fin with a grin. Eddie growled and pulled out some bills and gave them to the fish. "stupid bet." He muttered under his breath.

"Now…" Oscar said approaching Lenny. "Does this girl you exist, and is she single,. 'Cause I don't do breakups."

"Well sort of. We crash into each other in the halls." He said rubbing the small bump on his head.

"So." Eddie asked. "Who is it? It's not Maria is it?"

"No, but promise you won't freak out to much."

Eddie rolled his dark purple eyes. "Fine, fine I promise I will not freak out."

"It's Leila."

"WHAT!"

Bob the Fisherman lifted his head from watching his pole and turned to his Skipper Duncan. "Did you hear something?"

Duncan nodded, and both of them peered into the briny blue.

"That's it." Eddie rolled up his imaginary sleeves and started to march towards the doors. "She's going down."

"Wait, wait, hold up, wait, wait." Oscar darted in front of the nearly rampaging Eddie. "Now lets think about this." He looked past Eddie to see Lenny wringing his fins.

Eddie growled but stopped flexing his muscles. "No lets not and say we did. You're falling right into her trap."

"Hold it!" Oscar shouted over Eddie's rambling. "That's the sharkess you saved right."

Lenny nodded.

"Lenny it's not going to happen. She's too much involved in her own thing. Remember what happed to Petey when he tried to kiss her. He still can't talk." Eddie shook his head. "It's suicide."

"maybe it isn't." Oscar said thoughtfully.

"Oh no." Eddie said shaking his head. "Not another on of your fin-brained schemes again."

"Not this time it will work." Oscar turned to Lenny and pulled him over. "All we need to do is let her know you're there. What we need is to show her what you can do. Like show her that you could help her in a fight."

Eddie snorted causing Oscar and Lenny to glare at him. "No offence Lenny, but you couldn't throw a punch to save your life, let alone fend off a rampaging Tiger shark.

Oscar snapped his fin. "That's what we need a Tiger."

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Yeah and where are we gonna find one, let alone let you punch out his lights."

Oscar and Lenny exchanged looks and looked to Eddie, sly smiles on their faces.

Eddie gulped and started to back away. "Oh no! I know that look!"

Well 'ere ye go...

'member ta click th' blue button luvs...

Either Ran' o' Rave...

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Ta fer now...

-IPD