This chapter is dedicated to Maggi Esk, who should enjoy a particular development in it! Thanks for reading ALL my stories!

Chapter 2: Anticipation

******Sunday******

Piz and Parker made it back to Neptune around lunch time. Parker was happy that Piz got the job he wanted in Los Angeles, but she was also sad. However, she didn't want him to feel guilty for taking the job. It was much closer than New York, so she was determined to make the most of it.

"So when are you breaking the news to Wallace?" Parker asked as they pulled into her driveway.

Piz grimaced. "Today. I really should drive over to Dick's now and talk to him. He emailed me two apartments he found. I hope he won't be too mad," Piz said.

"Well, he might if you left him with no place to stay," Parker said. "But Dick loves having Wallace with him. I'm not sure how he'd do with just Weevil there anyway!"

Piz laughed. "Good point," he agreed. "When I tell him I already found an efficiency apartment close to the Santa Monica pier, do you think he'll forgive me?"

"Probably," she said, smiling. She leaned over to kiss him goodbye. "I have cheerleading practice in the morning at eight. Can you meet me for lunch at 11:30?"

"Sure," he said. She grabbed her bag out of the back seat and waved goodbye. He drove over to Dick's. It was hard to think of the Casablanca's huge house as Wallace's even though he lived there.

He rang the bell. When no one answered, he opened the door and went in. Wallace had mentioned Dick had a habit of not answering the door when he was otherwise occupied.

He found Dick and Weevil in the living room engaged in battle on the Xbox. Wallace was sitting in the chair cheering them on. He glanced up when Piz called out a greeting.

"Dude, you're just in time to see Dick get creamed!" Wallace said.

"Dude, what are you talking about? I'm totally kickin' Weevil's ass!" Dick exclaimed with a smirk. Weevil cast him a dirty look but said nothing, focusing on the game.

"Yeah, then you get to play me, and I'm going to kick your ass!" Wallace said smugly.

"Whatever!" Dick scoffed.

"Can we talk?" Piz asked Wallace.

"Sure. Let's go into the kitchen and get a drink," Wallace said.

Piz filled him in about the job interview he had in L.A. and subsequent job offer.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Wallace asked with a frown.

"Well, I didn't really think I'd get it. I didn't want to upset you if I didn't have to," Piz admitted.

"It sounds like a great job, so I can't be mad at you for that," Wallace said with a sigh. "But I was looking forward to rooming with you again."

"I know. You've been such a great friend to me. More than I deserve. I'm going to miss you a lot," Piz said.

"Well, at least you're just a short drive away this time. L.A. is much better than New York!" Wallace said with a grin.

"Tell me about it. I'm just glad I didn't have to go through a New York winter," Piz said.

"How's Parker taking the news?" Wallace wondered.

"She's been great. We both feel that since we stayed in love even when I was in New York, L.A. should be a piece of cake. I can easily drive to see her. We're going to take turns. She'll drive down to see me one weekend, and then I'll drive to see her and all you guys the next," Piz said.

"Good. I'm happy for you," Wallace said. "So do you want to hang out and watch me make Dick cry?"

Piz laughed. "Absolutely!"

*****Jalenos*****

Jazmin came out of her room after talking to her father. He seemed to need almost daily assurances that she was okay. Her exasperation warred with her own sense of guilt, so she tried to be as patient with him as she could. The one good thing that had come out of her horrible nightmare with David was a marked improvement between her and her father. She now really felt that she wasn't less important than her brother in her family's hierarchy. In fact, she'd come to realize that her father did respect her as both an adult and his daughter. Unfortunately, he remained convinced that it was the man's job to look after and protect the woman. Her weakness in her handling the trauma of David's abuse had probably cemented that belief. Then again she had detected a look of pride in his eyes at her final act that resulted in ending David's miserable existence permanently. She shook her head. Her father was who he was, and she loved him.

Jazmin knew that it bothered Eli that she wasn't more upset over killing David. However, he didn't quite get that killing David wasn't an act of murder. It wasn't vengeance. She had nothing to feel guilty about. The man had intended on killing her, on ending her life. Jazmin saw it in his eyes. Getting Joseph to buy her the gun hadn't been done out of malice intent either. She knew this. There had been no plan to hunt David down and kill him. It was only about feeling safe and protecting herself with the gun purchase. So defending herself against her attacker with the same gun had not been a sin. Her grandmother had told her to go to confession because she'd taken a life. Although she had agreed to do so, she hadn't repented of her act. When she discussed it with her priest, he had said taking of a life was never okay in God's eyes. However, King David had been a man of war in the Bible. He had killed hundreds of enemies in defense of his people and his own life, yet God still called him a man after God's own heart. His one great sin recorded in the Bible had been when he'd taken an innocent life. When confronted with his sin, David had confessed and found forgiveness. Her priest had grown up in Chicago's southside. He knew what evil and depravity were. He had given her absolution for action against David, a man her priest agreed who was nothing like his namesake King David. After shooting David, Jazmin slept just fine. In actuality, the peace she got from knowing he could never hurt her again helped her more than anything.

Her mother had even shown her more kindness than ever before. In fact, her mother had been the only one to not ask questions about what had happened. She hadn't resented Jazmin's silence. She'd hugged her and said she was sorry for what had happened. She was sorry for not being there for Jazmin. Then she'd cried for Jazmin and with Jazmin. Jazmin didn't think she'd ever really understand her mother, but at least she knew that her mom did love her. Sometimes she hadn't been very convinced of that. Jazmin realized that some people were just built differently. Some people had an enormous capacity for love. Others let this capacity get filled up with other things. They allowed their own hurts and disappointments to taint the love they gave others. Her mother loved her, but she wasn't strong enough to handle the harsh realities of life. She pretended she was unaware of her father's unsavory business connections by throwing elaborate parties all the time. But she was Jazmin's mother, and she did love her.

Jazmin had her first appointment with Dr. Addison tomorrow afternoon. She went to his office on the fourth to fill out insurance forms and stuff, but she didn't get to actually meet with him. He'd been out of town for the holidays, so she'd been unable to meet him sooner—much to her father's annoyance. She was going to meet with him three times a week for a few weeks until he felt less face to face time was okay. As she walked into the living room, she observed her brother in silence.

He was on the couch watching a basketball game. However, it was apparent that his mind wasn't really focused on the game. His pensive gaze was focused on his cell phone. Jazmin knew he was probably looking at either a picture of Daisy or text from her. She moved to sit down next to him on the couch. She laid her head down on his shoulders; his arms went around hers.

"What are you focused on that has you looking so sad?" she asked him.

Jason sighed. "I know Daisy came back into town yesterday, but she didn't call me. I thought maybe she would. I don't know why I thought that. I sent her a text to see if she wanted to have dinner tonight. She sent me back a one word reply. No. That's all she said," Jason shared, looking sad about the fact.

Jazmin said nothing a moment. She knew it didn't make her brother feel any better when she came to his defense against Daisy. She thought about the woman and what she had learned about her since she met her. Finally, she said, "You know, Jay, some people handle hurts in different ways. Some like Veronica allow hurts to fuel them, make them stronger. Some people like me hold tightly to them until they burn a hole inside. Others like Daisy see hurts as a type of evidence that the person who claimed to love them didn't really mean it. They use the pain to build a wall."

"I love Daisy. I've tried to tell her that, to show her. I don't know any other way to convince her," her brother said in defeat.

"You know there's that old saying, 'If you love something, set it free.' There's more to it, but maybe Daisy just needs time. Time to figure out if her hurt is greater than her love for you. If she loves you enough, she will get past it," Jazmin said. She sat up and looked at her brother. "If I had loved Joseph more, I might've forgiven him for what he did to me. If I hadn't lost the baby, I probably would've forgiven him for cheating. But losing the baby worked to kill any bit of love I had for him. Only anger and emptiness filled me. There wasn't room for anything else."

"Do you think she'll come back to me?" Jason asked. The hopeful note in his voice hurt her to hear. It made her angry toward Daisy, but she kept her anger to herself. That wouldn't help her brother.

"I think if she really is the right woman for you, she'll want to forgive you and let you make it up to her. None of us are perfect. We're all going to mess up from time to time. Love is about giving one another the grace to mess up," Jazmin said. "If she doesn't have that in her for you, then you truly are better off without her. And if she does, she'll come around."

"So what should I do?" Jason asked.

"Maybe focus on other things for a while. Don't date other women because that'd just convince her she was right to back away from you. But maybe you should let her come to you," Jazmin suggested.

Jason nodded. He did have a full plate. There was no end of tasks and things to occupy his time. Besides, he had neither the desire or energy to date anyone else. He hugged his sister. "Thanks, sis. You always know what to say," he said. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"Sure," she said.

"Would you make an effort to befriend her? A real effort. I think it might make things easier if you two were real friends. Maybe she'd feel less insecure about my relationship with you if she didn't already resent you," Jason said.

Jazmin knew that was probably true, so she nodded. "I will for you. I love you and think you're the best person in the world. I cannot fathom why Daisy wouldn't want to be with you, but I'll do what I can to help her see how perfect you are," Jazmin said with a smile.

Jason rolled his eyes. "You do not think I'm perfect, and you know it!" he reminded her.

She laughed. "You are perfect enough. Better than any other guy I know," she said.

He grinned. "I'll be sure and tell Eli that!" he teased.

"Well, you're almost better than any other guy I know," she corrected with a grin.

Jason chuckled. "That's what I thought!" he said.

"So what do you want to do for dinner?" Jazmin asked. "We really need to go to the grocery store."

"Why don't we try that new cafe on campus corner? O'Connell's, I think it's called. We can go grocery shopping after dinner," Jason suggested.

"Sounds great," Jazmin said. She got up. "Let me grab the list I made."

Five minutes later, they walked into the cafe. Since their apartment wasn't very far from campus, it didn't take them long to get there because Jason insisted on driving the short blocks. They'd need the car for groceries later anyway. They entered the cafe and looked around. It was one of those casual places where a diner ordered soups and various sandwiches and plates at the counter and paid. Then it was brought out to you. They looked over the selections and ordered. While Jason was paying, Jazmin glanced around for a table. She grinned when she saw Thea at a table reading a book. She walked over to her.

"Hey, Thea. Would you mind some company or are you in the middle of something?" Jazmin asked.

Thea looked up from her book and smiled when she recognized Jazmin. As always, her smile transformed her face, causing Jazmin to blink. "That smile of yours is something special," Jazmin said in bemusement.

Thea laughed, used to that sentiment. "I'd love to have you join me," she said. Then she caught sight of Jazmin's brother. "Your brother, too." Now that she'd been dating Wallace, Jason didn't make her quite so nervous. He smiled when he spotted her and heading to her table. She sighed in pleasure. He was still nice to look at, though. "Your brother is such a beautiful man."

Jazmin laughed as she sat in the chair across from Thea. "Yea, I know. You'll get used to it," Jazmin assured her.

"I am. I can now speak in whole sentences around him," she said with a self-deprecating smile as Jason sat down next to his sister.

"How are you, Athena?" Jason asked.

"Very well. Ready to get this semester over with, though," she said.

"Please tell me you're not studying already? Classes don't start until tomorrow!" Jazmin said with a groan.

Thea looked sheepish. "Well, my microbiology professor had his syllabus posted already. If I work ahead, I can have time to go to Wallace's game on Thursday night," she said.

Jazmin gave her an approving smile. "He's lucky to have you," Jazmin said.

Thea got a little starry-eyed. "I don't know about that. I feel pretty lucky myself," she admitted. "He's the first guy to ever notice me."

Jason laughed and shook his head. "Not true. Not at all. Other guys noticed you. They were just too intimidated by that incredible brain of yours," Jason told her.

Thea flushed in pleasure at his compliment. It was always nice to know that your long time crush did see you.

They brought the twins their food. "Have you already eaten?" Jazmin asked.

"Yes, you two go ahead. I don't mind," she said.

They began eating. As they ate, they shared their class schedule for the upcoming semester.

"Jason always takes more credits than I because he's got a double major," Jazmin said.

"I'm going to get a double masters, so there was no point in me getting a double major," Thea said.

"You're going to be in school a long time," Jazmin said with a grimace.

"Well, I'm just nineteen and will graduate in May. I should be able to finish graduate school and start medical school by the time Wallace graduates here. That is if he decides to get his masters," she shared. "If not, a year or two after he finishes."

"Are you going to test for your masters instead of writing a thesis?" Jason asked.

She nodded. "It'll be easier for me. I want to go to medical school at Stanford, but my dad is pushing for Yale, where he went," she told them.

"Both are excellent choices," Jason said.

"Yeah. I figure I have two years to apply. If Wallace and I are still together, I'll go to whichever one is closer to whatever area Wallace gets a job in," she said with a shrug.

Jazmin was surprised. "Really? You'd pick your school based on your boyfriend? That's not very feminist of you," Jazmin teased.

"Well, I think if you're in a committed relationship, you should do what's best for both of you. Love should be selfless. It should be putting someone else's needs ahead of yours. If both schools are good for me, then I have no problems with Wallace choosing where we would live. I'll be in graduate school for two or three years plus residency. So wherever I go to medical school would be where we live for a while. I'd want him to be happy. If not, we'd never make it as a couple," Thea said.

Jazmin smiled in approval. "I totally agree. My dad wants me to come home to Chicago as soon as I graduate, but Eli's family is here. He has younger siblings that need him. They don't have a father. All they have is him and his uncles. His grandmother is getting old. I could never ask him to leave Neptune. Not for many years," Jazmin said.

Jason realized she had a point. He knew Eli wouldn't easily leave home, but he'd hope maybe in a few years. But it'd take Jason a few years to get through law school anyway. A few more before he was active in his father's business.

"So you think you and Eli will be together for the long haul?" Thea wondered.

Jazmin smiled. "I hope so. I really do. No one's ever loved me like he does," she said. She wasn't ready to be intimate with him again, and he was being so patient, so wonderful about it. He seemed perfectly happy to simply hold her in his arms. "I'm really lucky to have him."

Jason put his arm around her shoulders. "I think he's pretty lucky, too," he said, giving her a fond smile.

Thea agreed. Jazmin was really sweet. She hoped this year was better for her.

******That Evening******

Dick and Mac were having dinner at the beach house with Logan, Veronica, and Trina. They both had a lot of stories to tell. Mac and Veronica shared amused looks as their men tried to outdo one another in sharing details of their vacations.

Trina grew more annoyed as the stories went on. Finally, she complained, "That's it! I can't hear anymore! I am turning green with envy!"

Dick snickered. "Wall Street can't plan a hot cruise for you?" he asked.

"Oh, don't you have an extended weekend in New York planned?" Mac wondered.

"What's this dude's name? We should have Mac run his credit and Weevil his name to see if he's some perv like David," Dick suggested

Trina rolled her eyes's at Dick's comment, but her face grew excited. "Clint is no criminal, but I don't care if you run him. You won't find anything. He works so much that we haven't gotten to spend much extended time together," Trina said. "MLK weekend is when we're going to do it. He's off that Monday and so is Logan and Veronica. Mary will watch Richie Friday until they get done with class. I'll be back Tuesday morning on the red-eye."

"Sounds good to me," Logan said.

"You guys met in college, right?" Mac asked. "What's Clint's last name?" She really would run his name. Trina's notorious history made it a requirement to be careful. She had Richie now and needed to be extra cautious.

Trina nodded. "Yeah. We met at NYU the one semester I went. His name is Clint Ross. He wasn't overly impressed with my parents' fame, and it really pissed me off," she admitted.

Logan laughed. "I like him more and more!" he quipped.

"He seemed really nice at the wedding," Veronica admitted. "But I didn't spend much time with him." She was torn. She didn't want Trina to move to New York and take Richie away from them. In fact, Veronica lived in fear of that daily. But she did want Trina to find a nice guy. A guy that wasn't shallow or abusive like all her others. This guy was exactly the kind of guy Veronica wanted for her. Why did he have to be based in a state so far away?

"Maybe we should plan to go on spring break in New York City," Dick said with a wide grin. "I don't trust any guy I haven't gotten drunk with."

Mac and Veronica both rolled their eyes. "Such high standards you have," Veronica said dryly.

"You got yours. I got mine. Mine are much less self-righteous and annoying," Dick said smugly.

Logan put his arms around Veronica and cast a glare at Dick. "Hey, now. That's my wife you're talking about!" he exclaimed.

"I know," Dick said, grinning.

"Okay. As long as you know that," Logan said with a smirk.

"Gee, I'm touch by your show of defense," Veronica said dryly.

They all laughed.

Richie started waving his arms from his bouncy chair. That was his signal that he wanted to be picked up. Mac was closest, so she reached out and grabbed him out of the chair. "How's my little guy?" she asked him.

Dick smiled at the picture she presented as she played with Richie. He couldn't wait until she had his son. Or daughter. He found both genders equally cool. "Mackie, are you sure you don't want to get pregnant? We can have a little dude for Richie to play with!" he informed her.

"No, Dick. I'm not having a baby just so Richie has a playmate!" Mac said in exasperation.

Dick grinned and gave her a wink. Logan laughed. Veronica shook her head. "Children aren't just playmates, Dick," she told him.

"I know that, Ronnie!" he said, annoyed with her scolding. "But Mac looks so hot holding Richie, don't you think?"

Trina laughed at him. "You got it bad, man!" she observed.

Dick held out his arms, so he could play with little dude. Richie kicked his legs and gurgled to see him.

Trina smiled at them. Richie was going to grow up well loved and secure. He'll never know the insecurity that plagued her nor the abuse that Logan suffered. If she sometimes didn't feel like she wanted to be a mother, she figured that was okay. Richie had several others that will love him as much as her. She knew he was happy and well loved. It was funny how motherhood changed you even if you were a reluctant mother. Trina had always been prone to jealousy and insecurity. However, she wasn't like that with Richie. It didn't bother her at all if Richie was equally attached to Veronica. She knew she couldn't always be everything he needed, but she wanted him to have everything. No kid could ever have too much love.

Two hours later, Dick walked Mac up to her door. They'd stayed pretty late over at Logan's. He was trying to talk her into letting him stay the night.

"Dick, we have class in the morning," she said, smiling at his woe-be-gone expression.

"My first class isn't until ten!" he said smugly.

"Well, mine's at eight," she replied. "Tuesdays and Thursdays I don't have class until one, so you can stay tomorrow." She reached up to kiss him goodnight.

"That's it?" he asked in disappointment.

Max laughed at him. "Anticipation, Dick. Makes everything better," she told him. She patted his cheek and walked inside her house.

Dick frowned after her. She was a cruel woman!

******Chapter End******