Thirty minutes later, everyone was at the cemetery on Market – CJ, Sweet, Kendl, Cesar, and Lisa – and they were all circled around Big Smoke's brand new tombstone.

Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris

1960 - 1992

CJ still felt it was hard to believe his closest friend from childhood was now gone. In spite of everything the Grove Street Families member went through, he was still his closest friend, and he had even acted as a father figure to him since CJ's biological father was never around during his childhood. To think that he was finally gone and out of CJ's life for good really hurt him badly, and the fact that it was CJ himself who took out his friend hurt him even more since he never felt so bad to kill anyone. CJ had a very difficult time holding back his tears as he felt as if someone was squeezing his heart tightly. The pain of losing his best friend was gut-wrenching to him. Everyone else was also very sad of Smoke's loss as well.

"Rest in peace, Smoke," CJ said silently. "You was like family to us."

"You may have sold us out," Sweet added, "but even you deserved better than this."

"He wasn't evil," Lisa added, trying to hold back her tears. "He was just a man who was caught in a shitty situation. I don't condone what he did at all, but I still feel it wasn't really his fault. It's a shame he let all that money get the better of his fat ass. I'm really going to miss him."

Sweet then placed a hand onto her shoulder. "I'll miss him too, girl," Sweet replied, resting Lisa's head against his chest. "I'll miss him too."

Cesar then slowly stepped to CJ's side. "Sorry, holmes," he told him calmly. "I know Smoke was like your familia. I feel just as terrible about this as everyone else, CJ."

"It's cool, Ceez," CJ told him. "Thanks for having my back at the end."

"No problem, CJ," Cesar replied. "I'll always be there for you and your familia."

"That's right," Kendl said, struggling to hold back tears herself. "I do feel bad for Smoke to be honest. He may have behaved selfishly, but I know for a fact that he still loved us all deep down. He was still family to us regardless of the decision he made in the end."

Just then, Ryder came around carrying a large back. "Yo what's up, y'all?" Ryder greeted, approaching the group.

"Where you been, Ryder?" Sweet asked him. "And what's in the bag?"

"Something to remember our fat ally by," Ryder replied, digging inside the bag. He pulled out a huge bucket of chicken from the inside. "Hot and spicy! I'd figured that we should set this by Smoke's grave so he wouldn't rest hungry."

He then set the large bucket by Big Smoke's tombstone. "So you spent about $25 worth of fast-food just to set it by Smoke's grave?" Sweet asked.

"Gyeah," Ryder replied with a straight face.

The others just stared back at Ryder and bursted out laughing at his decision.

"Man, you a fool, Ryder!" CJ chuckled.

"You sure know how to put the "fun" in funeral, huh, Lance?" Lisa added, laughing her hardest.

"That's Ryder for ya," Sweet said in between laughs. "What would we do without you, homie?"

"I have to admit," Kendl said, struggling to cut her own laughter short. "Shorty here has a great sense of humor, and it's great to have him liven up our mood here. We need a bit of levity once in a while."

"Yeah," Lisa agreed, still laughing. "I'm sure that's what Smoke would want from us."

Everyone continued laughing and took a quick stop as they slowly started catching their breath and sighed softly. "We'll miss you, Smoke," CJ said. "Rest well."

Lisa then stepped up to CJ. "Hey Carl," she told him. "I was thinking, we should make a mural of Big Smoke, you know, to honor his name. That's something I feel he deserves after everything that just happened."

"Great idea, Lisa," Sweet added. "Smoke was one of our highest ranking members of Grove Street. We should definitely do something to honor Smoke by and keep his legacy alive. So let's go make a mural!"

"Excellent!" Lisa said. "I'll get my art supplies and we can get started."

Everyone else cheered in agreement and followed suit.

The group worked together to paint a mural of the falling Grove Street member. Sweet had rounded up the group to do the same on every building around the block. Sweet, CJ, and the rest of the group gathered around to paint the mural on the side of the red building of East Los Santos. Lisa did the artwork of Big Smoke holding a bucket of fried chicken. Ryder and CJ both did the artwork of the train beside the artwork of the deceased gangster. CJ and Sweet added the finishing touch, with the former tagging the number of orders around him and the latter adding in Big Smoke's name in big, bold letters in green.

It took the group about four and a half hours to finish the mural since they had to use a ruler for measurements, paint, tape, paintbrush, and ladders. There was even a reference sketch of Big Smoke drawn by Lisa in order to capture the design of the fallen member. By the time they finished, the mural looked very immaculate and lucid. They all saw a neat and crisp mural of Big Smoke holding a bucket of fried chicken against his large belly with his left hand while holding one of the pieces of a fried drumstick in his right hand. There was also a design of a train on the left side of Big Smoke, with the words "Follow the Train" tagged up above, as well as two chicken sandwiches. The names of the orders was also shown around Big Smoke: "Two number nines (one large)", "Number Six (with extra dip)", "Number Seven", "Two Number 45s (one with cheese)", "Large Soda".

CJ, Sweet, Ryder, Kendl, Lisa, and Cesar all looked up the mural of Big Smoke and the orders and train around him. They really wanted to keep Big Smoke in their memories, as he was an important piece of the families.

"You'll always live inside us, Big Smoke," CJ said. "You may have sold us out, but we know for a fact that the Grove truly was in yo' heart."

"We gonna miss you, fat man," Sweet added. "You died saving my brother's life, and that's something I gotta respect you for."

"I'm just glad this is all over," Kendl replied, holding Cesar's hand.

"Seguro," Cesar said. "Let's go get something to eat."

"Sounds good to me," Kendl said as everyone, minus CJ, turned to leave.

CJ just stared at the mural, reminiscing on all the good times he had with Big Smoke. He may have been gone physically, but at least CJ and the rest of Grove Street would have something to remember him by.

"Thanks for everything, Smoke," CJ said to himself. "You gonna keep our memories alive for life."

CJ started to feel a little better and joined the rest of the family to return to the Johnson house.

It was now 1:26 AM. Everyone was convened in the Johnson house and discussing future plans now that the riot was officially over. CJ, Sweet, Kendl, and Cesar were gathered at the table while Ryder was in the living room with Lisa.

"Now that everything is cool, we gotta stay on top of our game," CJ told everyone. "Keep everything in check, but subtle."

"We got problems in Venturas, problems in San Fierro," Kendl complained. "Shit's never ending."

"For sure," Sweet agreed. "I mean, the Families is back on their feet. But we gotta keep shit tight cause a lot of people have got their eyes on us."

"Jeah!" Ryder chimed in. "Ain't no way they can take on Grove Street, especially me, a kung-fu genius!"

He made a karate chop, which swung right past Lisa's face. "Boy, you better watch where you swinging them moves before you end up getting countered!" Lisa scolded.

"Screw you, Lisa!" Ryder shouted at his sister. "How's about I take you down?! You can't stop a kung-fu master!" He made another swung at Lisa, who dodged it just in time.

"First of all, little bro, you been watching too many kung-fu films," Lisa told him, "and secondly, if you even think about using those moves on me, you can leave it to me to show you my special moves!"

"Just try it, sis!" Ryder said, swinging at Lisa. "Just try to– "

But as Ryder swung at Lisa, the latter grabbed his arm, twisted his wrist, and shoved him back onto the couch. "You better back up off me, boy," Lisa demanded.

But Ryder hopped out of his seat and took another swing at Lisa, who countered him again. Soon, the two siblings started wrestling and arguing with each other on the ground.

Cesar and Kendl watched as they sat at the table. "Do they always fight like this?" Cesar asked Kendl.

"They're brother and sister, Ceez," Kendl said. "Shit like this is common for most of them. Of course, I'll always be rooting for Lisa."

Lisa now had Ryder pinned to the floor. "What's up now, Lance?" Lisa boasted. "Not so much of a kung-fu master now, huh?"

"Screw you, sis!" Ryder said, struggling to extricate himself out of Lisa's tight grip.

"Tap out, little bro!" Lisa yelled in Ryder's face. "You ain't got no chance against me! You always were the weaker one of the two of us."

"Fuck off me!" Ryder growled, Lisa's grip still much too tenacious for Ryder to writhe out of.

"Say the magic words, little bro!" Lisa demanded.

"Fuck you!" Ryder replied.

The other four starting laughing and cheering as they watched the two siblings on the floor.

"Rip that nigga's head off, Lees!" Sweet called.

CJ just laughed at this sight. "Who you say was the busta again, Ryder?" CJ chuckled. "Just like old times."

Just then, the door swung open, and Sweet, CJ, and Cesar pulled out their pistols and drew them to the door. Ryder, who was still pinned by Lisa, also pulled out his weapon and drew it at the door as well.

The people who entered were Ken Rosenberg, Kent Paul, Maccer, and Madd Dogg. Ken was the first to step front to put his hands up front to gesture everyone to put away their weapons.

"I come in peace with Mr. Dogg here," Ken said as Ryder and Lisa slowly climbed back onto their feet to face the group that entered, "who has an announcement."

Madd Dogg was carrying a large record beside him. "My, I mean OUR first...GOLD...RECORD!" he announced, showing everyone his gold record.

Everyone stepped up forward to congratulate Madd Dogg. Suddenly, Maccer stepped in front of the rapper.

"And I've decided to get breast implants," he chimed in.

"Shut up, will ya?" Paul chided, pulling Maccer away and taking him to the kitchen.

"Biyonco ese!" Cesar said.

"Oh, Madd Dogg," CJ told the rapper, pointing at Ryder. "This my homie Ryder. I'd figure he'd be yo' new bodyguard, y'know, make sure no one else attempts to sabotage you or your career this time."

"Sure thing," Madd Dogg said, giving Ryder a handshake. "My crib can use some protection."

"You got it, Dogg!" Ryder told him. He turned to the sofa. "And you won't worry about anybody breakin' into yo' crib," he said, picking up a sniper rifle off the sofa. "They gonna have to get through me!"

"Cool, homie," Madd Dogg said.

"Anyways, what's next?" CJ asked.

"We should hit the casino, roll some dice with Woozie," Kendl suggested.

"Naw, not yet," Sweet protested. "We still gotta take care of shit here first."

"Jeah," Ryder agreed. "We still gotta cap them Balla Dope Pushas and get back every last hood in this city!"

"See?" Sweet said. "Even Ryder here agrees with me."

"We're going on tour, fan!" Madd Dogg said.

"Has anyone got a tissue?" Ken asked, holding his nose. "My nose is...it just won't stop running – anybody?"

"Yeah, I have!" Maccer called from the kitchen, holding a paper towel. "Over here..."

"Uh, I'll pass," Ken replied.

Kendl then turned to see that CJ was heading for the exit. "Carl, where are you off to now?" she asked CJ.

"Fittin' to hit the block, see what's happenin'," CJ replied.

CJ walked outside and took a look around his neighborhood under the cloudy, nocturnal sky. When he started to walk down the street, something caught his eye. He saw a mural of his mother painted onto the wall of the overpass. He quickly dashed to it. "Moms!" he called. "I can't believe I didn't notice this!"

"Do you like it?!" he heard a woman's voice from behind.

CJ turned to see Lisa standing right behind him. "Lisa!" he cried out. "What's up, girl? You startled me."

"I was just coming over to check up on you, Carl," Lisa said as she approached CJ. The two stared at the mural of CJ's mother.

"You did this?" CJ asked Lisa.

"Yep," Lisa answered. "While you were helping your gang take out your rival gangs through all this riot that other night, Cesar, Kendl, and I decided to do something to remember Mrs. Johnson by. She definitely was a caring woman to all of us."

"I know," CJ muttered. "I'm really gonna miss her."

"So will I, Carl," Lisa told him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "That's why I suggested we should do this to keep her in your memory as well."

"Thanks, Lisa," CJ said, giving Lisa a tight hug. "You the best."

"No problem, Carl," Lisa replied. "Your family deserves so much better."

The two then looked around the neighborhood. It was now silent, and despite the mess the riot has left for the past seven days, at least it was all over. "You know, this is my first time being out here in Grove Street since I first moved out of this place," Lisa told CJ. "Strangely, despite deploring the ghetto as a whole and gangbangers in general, part of me actually misses this place."

"I feel the same way too, girl," CJ replied. "Sweet has taught me that no matter where I go, no matter where I live, I should never, ever forget where I came from. I should never forget my roots."

"Ironic," Lisa added. "I've been thinking the same thing. While I am genuinely above that hood mentality, the hood is still in me as well. Now that's not to say I'm still going to stay here. It just means that I'll have to deal with where I was born and raised and never forget where my roots truly came from."

"Yeah," CJ answered. "Shit's been crazy here in the '90s though."

"I'll say," Lisa replied, nodding. "I mean we're only at the beginning of the decade and look at all the shit that we got into – last year, C.R.A.S.H. tried to tear down our neighborhood, beat up Russell Chief, a gang from the northwest tried to take over, your Moms needed a heart transplant, many of the members of your gang get killed, and I got shot in my own home."

"And now this year," CJ added, "the Ballas kill my Moms, C.R.A.S.H. tries to frame me for homicide, Big Smoke sells me out, and a riot goes out of control. Crazy shit, huh?"

"No kidding," Lisa agreed. "You ready for '93, Carl?"

"Hell yeah!" CJ said. "These last two years of this decade ain't been kind to me, but I know for a fact that 1993 will definitely be my year, and I'm ready for the rest of this decade to be much better than the last two years."

"Same here," Lisa added.

CJ then scratched the back of his head and felt his face getting red as he turned away. "So, uh, Lees," he asked nervously. "Would you like to, uh... y'know, be my... girl?"

Lisa stared at CJ with her big brown eyes. "I told you, Carl," she told him, "we have to spend more time together before you can be my new lover. We can't be a couple right away. It still takes time."

"So we won't be lovers now?" CJ asked.

"No," Lisa answered. "But we can go out on a date. It will take some time before we're both ready to start a real relationship."

"Uh... cool," CJ said, his heart thumping loudly. "I'd like that. After I'm finished taking over the neighborhoods?"

"Of course, Carl," Lisa answered. "Here's something as a reward for all the hard work."

CJ started to blush as Lisa puckered her pink lips towards CJ's face. CJ didn't hesitate as he reciprocated with a kiss himself. The two spent the next twenty-five seconds lip-locking each other. CJ felt both nervous and satisfied, as he would've never expected to be having his first prolonged kiss with his best friend's sister, who was practically like a surrogate older sibling in childhood. But he was glad of the possibility of Lisa to be his lover. As they pulled away from each other, CJ's face began to blush as he stared in Lisa's eyes.

"So, how was it, Carl?" Lisa asked slyly as she smiled at him.

"It was... uh... different," CJ replied, his face feeling red. "I never expected this from you of all people."

"To be honest, I feel just as surprised of this as you," Lisa replied. "But you seem like a caring person, Carl, and you definitely have a lot more heart than two of the men I broke up with in the past. If you keep this up, then maybe, just maybe, I'll consider you as my impeccable choice."

This caused CJ to blush even harder. "Uh... sure, girl," CJ uttered. "Yeah. That would be great."

"So what's your next plan, Carl?" Lisa asked him.

"I'm about to look around the neighborhood," CJ answered. "I'm gonna explore my old city, embrace where I'm from, hit the block."

"Okay, Carl," Lisa said, turning back to the Johnson house. "You just be careful out there, okay?!"

"Don't worry, girl!" CJ called back. "I will!"

CJ turned to leave, but not before staring back to take a good hard look at Lisa's big, round backside as she walked to the house. CJ felt an erection in his pants. His heart began to beat. He hoped that Lisa would be his someday. He then turned to leave.

"Yo CJ!" he heard Ryder call out distantly from the street. CJ turned to see Sweet and Ryder also standing behind Lisa at the porch of the Johnson house.

"Don't forget, GROVE STREET 4 LIFE!" Ryder called out.

"YEAH!" Sweet added. "GROVE STREET 4 LIFE!"

"GROVE STREET 4 LIFE!" CJ called back, and he turned to leave.

CJ walked away feeling satisfied. He may have lost his mother, as well as his closest childhood friend, and he may have been in a difficult situation thanks to C.R.A.S.H. But all of it was worth it in the end, and he finally got his gang back on top after a long time below the rankings.

As CJ walked through the streets, he painted vivid pictures of his fond memories of his childhood and could hear Big Smoke's voice in his head, as a lot of them were foreshadowed in retrospect.

"Like it says in the book, we are blessed and cursed."

"Same things make us laugh, make us cry!"

"I'll have two number nines, a number nine large, a number six with extra dip, a number seven, two number 45s, one with cheese, and a large soda."

"If you can eat your food while everybody else is losing theirs, and blaming you, you straight, homie!"

"People have to open their eyes and their hearts, CJ."

"I'm talking about the choices all men face, brother. Sometimes, they seem real, but other times, there's no choice at all."

"Remember me when you get to the top!"

Big Smoke's words were still in his head, and he kept on getting visionaries of his childhood friend. It still felt so empty without Big Smoke around, especially since he was an important piece of CJ's childhood. But CJ was glad to have Big Smoke still alive in his memories, and he still had wonderful memories of him as well.

CJ didn't have time to fantasize any longer. He heard his cellphone ring and pulled it out of his pocket to answer. "Eh, whassup?" he said.

As he answered, he heard heavy breathing and moaning from a woman's voice – Catalina's voice.

"Hello?" CJ asked.

"Yes, Claude," Catalina demanded over the phone. "Faster, harder, DEEPER! Oh, yes, yes, yes, YES!"

"Catalina!" CJ replied. "You sick! Get help!"

"And you, Carl, you are jealous!" Catalina told him right before hanging up.

CJ put his phone away and stored it back into his pocket. Crazy bitch, he thought, smiling. He actually found Catalina's random phone calls hilarious. He continued walking through the streets exploring his city.

So that was my story. A bunch of crazy shit went down since the early '90s. I end up losing my Moms, my closest homie sold me out, C.R.A.S.H. tearing this whole city apart with this riot. But at the end of the day, we earned it all! In retrospect, I was glad I came back home. One quick stroll through East Los Santos, and I take one look at Big Smoke's mural to have him remind me of all the good times we had. Not only did he teach me a valuable lesson of betrayal and loyalty, he taught all of us a lesson – something we will never forget – we should all be wise at making our decisions, otherwise, we'll end up fucking things up for not just ourselves, but for everyone else. He helped us all. And whether he knew about it or not, he had a great impact on our lives. Me personally, I learned from my big brother Sweet that no matter where you are, no matter where you live, never forget where you came from. I had a car showroom and a pimped-out garage in San Fierro. I had a casino. I had a mansion. I was the manager of a famous rapper. But one thing I learned from all of this is that despite all that, I was born and raised in Grove Street. That's where I'm from, and that's what I'm gonna rep for life! Who knows where our legacy will go to once the years pass by? One thing's for sure is that Grove Street is now the biggest gang out here in Los Santos, and I'll be there to back up my big bro to take over every hood in this city. Because by the time this is all done, we'll be kicking back to enjoy our success. Grove Street 4 life!

THE END