Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the characters you don't recognize. I hate typing this, hence the reason you rarely see it.

Sorry for the wait. Thanks for the reviews. Glad to see you guys are still tuned in. Here's the next one…

Warning: May be long and slightly pointless.

Chapter 58-Changes

Vince's POV

No more crying, V. Just let her have her space. Give her time.

I kept repeating those words to myself. After I arrived at the garage, the Team bombarded me with questions and yells. I tried to ignore them, for once deciding to go against fighting. I sat in the back, working on the cars that came in ever so often. I just wanted to be left alone. I also wanted my wife and son to come back home, but you can't have everything, I said to himself. I tried to call Sasha at least twenty times, but her cell phone was off.

I was frustrated with himself. I had let her get away once before, and it burnt me up inside. Now that she was my wife and the mother of my child, I felt like I couldn't breathe without her. I wanted her to come back home and to never leave again. But I knew that she wouldn't do it alone.

I had to meet her half-way. I had to change. Not only for Sasha and Desmond, but for myself. The way I'm living isn't healthy. I had to get my attitude under control. One day, it'd me in a serious situation that I won't be able to get out of.

"V, you okay dawg? Don't be so down brother," Leon said, sitting on the ground next to me. I was under a Mitsubishi Eclipse.

"I'm not down," I lied through his teeth.

"Come on bro, you know she'll be back. Girl's just going through some shit," Leon said, trying to be as comforting as possible.

"Le, get lost brother," I growled, still working underneath the Eclipse. Leon was never the best person to talk to when you wanted comforting advice. He definitely wasn't helping right now.

"Brother, we all know you're done under that car. You just don't want to come out and be seen. Get up man, let's go have lunch," Leon stood from the dingy concrete floor, dusting his butt off as he stood.

I sighed and rolled out from under the car, wiping my hands on an already-greasy rag. Leon held his hand out for support. I grabbed it, for once being allowed assistance. Leon informed Dom on where we were going and led us out the garage. We walked next door to the café, where Diana was working alone.

We walked over and took a seat at the counter, ignoring the other customers who were waiting.

"Di, make us some food," Leon yelled playfully to Diana's back. She was getting change for a previous customer.

"Can't you see I'm-" she stopped short at seeing me. I admit, I did look a mess. "Hey V," she said, her voice full of sympathy.

"Hey Diana. Can you make me something to eat please?" I begged, dropping my forehead on the countertop. Leon smacked me on the back before walking to another part of the café.

"Sure thing V," Diana replied, handing the customer his change and walking to the back of the store. "How you holding up V?" Diana asked me.

"I'm dealing. It's just so surreal, ya know. Like, I never thought she would actually leave. I didn't realize how bad things were getting," I admitted, not lifting my head. I felt comfortable speaking my emotions with Diana because I knew she had no intentions on telling anyone. Leon was out of earshot and the customers couldn't give two fucks about my troubles, they had their own.

"V, you didn't see it coming. Hell, none of us did. But we all knew it'd end up here at some point. You have to understand V, Sasha's been hurt all her life. She never had it as easy as us growing up. I know you don't mean to, but when you act the way you do, it scares her Vince. You need to be more sensitive, but still as aggressive as she likes you," Diana said, handing me a small saucer with a turkey sandwich on it.

"I know, I know. But this is how I was when we've met. Ok, I've changed a little, big deal. I never meant to hurt her," I said, taking a bite out of my sandwich.

"V, you've changed a lot. You drink twice as much, you yell twice as much, and that growl is just frightening," she joked, handing me a soda to help the sandwich go down easier. I smiled, taking the last bite of my sandwich.

"Oh my - was - was that a smile V?" Leon asked, walking back over to us. He had a bag of Fritos in his hand and crumbs on his face.

"Let's go," I said, shaking my head at my crazy friend. "Thanks for the advice," I said to Di, giving her a wink. She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you," I heard Leon whisper as we walked back to the garage.

xxx

Sasha's POV

I woke from my nap to the smell of home cooking. I glanced out the window, noticing that it was now night-time. The street was lit by lamp posts every few feet. I looked back at the bed for my baby, noticing it was empty. I didn't panic like I usually would. I knew it was no way in hell that Desmond could get off the bed and if he had fallen, I would've heard his cries. I made my way down the stairs to find my son and brother. I heard Charlie's voice, so I followed his words. I walked to the front door, which was open but the screen door was closed. The house was dark, but was lit dimly by the porch light. I could make out Charlie, who was holding Desmond, sitting on the porch steps. I listened to him to talk Desmond.

"She's gorgeous Desmond. I wish she knew that I was so much better for her mate," Charlie said, his voice full of pain. I had never seen this side of my brother. He was usually always cheery. "She's with that chum, Bobby. He does nothing for her mate. He just mopes around her bungalow. He doesn't have a job, he doesn't have money, he's nothing. I have everything for her. Just look over there," Charlie said, pointing across the street. I glanced over their shoulder, trying to see for myself. A car was pulling up to the Shaye's home. The passenger kissed the blonde-headed driver and got out the car, walking to Shaye's home.

"She deserves better Desmond," Charlie said, still staring across the street.

I took a few steps back, then walked back to the door, as if I hadn't been standing there. I opened the door, walking out onto the porch where they sat.

"What's up boys?" I said nonchalantly, taking a seat on the step above them.

"Just getting some fresh air. How was your nap?" Charlie asked, turning slightly to face me.

"Good. Smells good in there, whatcha cookin?"

"Fried chicken, mash potatoes, baked beans, mac and cheese, and fresh rolls," my mouth watered as he ran down what was brewing in the kitchen. I didn't realize how hungry I was.

"Sounds great. Say, is everything okay? You seem a little upset?" I asked him, trying to pretend that I didn't know what was wrong with him. I knew good and well what was wrong. He was in love with Shaye.

"I'm fine. Just a little things here and there. Anyways, let go eat," he said, handing me Desmond as he stood from the porch.

About an hour later, Charlie and I were sitting on the front porch, staring up at the night sky. Desmond was asleep in his playpen in the living room. We weren't talking, but enjoying the cool, night-time chill. The stary sky gave the deep blue color a magical shine. Charlie would never admit it, but he had been staring at Shaye's house for the past fifteen minutes. There was a light on in on the upper level of the home, and a shadow could be seen moving around the room.

"It'd help if you talked to her," I mumbled, not being able to help myself. Charlie looked at me, then turned away.

"It wouldn't do any good. She doesn't listen to anything I say about her boyfriend, that chump," Charlie said, understanding what I was talking about.

"Well it was like that with me and Vince. You remember Mia?" he nodded, turning to me. "Well Vince used to be in love with her. I mean, since they were teens. I met him when I was sixteen. He was still following her around like a puppy dog."

"Well how'd you get him to choose you?" Charlie inquired.

"Well I tried to show him that I was better for him. Mia treated him like an older brother, rather than someone she could possibly love. I showed him that she had no intentions on being with him and that he had to find someone who did. I love Mia to death, but it was her loss. Vince is a good man Charlie, he just comes off a little too strong," I said, somehow making the conversation about me and Vince. "But that's not the point. If you really like her, then tell how you feel. Times a wasting little brother," I laughed, ruffling his dark hair.

"Thanks Sasha. You better take your on advice to heart. Times a wasting big sis," Charlie repeated, ruffling my hair just the same. He stood from the porch and walked inside.

I was left sitting on the porch, contemplating my own issues. I needed to talk to Vince, and soon. Vince was the type of person that if you made him wait too long, he'd eventually lose interest. That was the last thing I wanted. I sat on the porch for another half hour before I decided it was time to hit the sack again.

xxx

No POV

The next morning, Vince woke in an empty and cold bed. He ran his hand over the empty part of the bed where Sasha used to sleep. He could still smell her coconut scent on the pillows. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat and moved the covers from his feet, tossing his legs over the bed. He grabbed his cell to see if there were any missed calls. Nothing. He grunted and slipped the device into his basketbal shorts.

Vince trekked down the hall to wake his niece. He knocked on the door, but didn't receive an answer. He pushed the door open, revealing a knocked out Jayden. He felt his heart smile at the sight of her. Her comforter was barely over her body, which was hanging off the bed. Her mouth was open slightly and she was snoring softly. Her hair was a mess. Vince couldn't help but smile. She looked so much like him lying there.

"Hey Kid," he whispered, shaking her plunging legs. Jayden stirred and turned to her uncle, sitting up on her elbows.

"Sup Unc?" she said, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"Wanna go to the garage?" Vince asked, running his hands over his head. Jayden looked over at the clock on her table.

"Uncle V, are you crazy?! It's seven in the morning! The garage doesn't open for another five hours!" Jayden yelled, turning over in her bed.

"I know. We're going out for breakfast," V said, turning and exiting the room. He walked back to his bedroom for a shower.

Standing in his birthday suit in front of the mirror, fresh out of the shower, Vince had come to a conclusion. If he was going to change himself on the inside, he might as well do the same for the outside. He grabbed the razor and shaving cream, spreading some smoothly over his beard. A few strokes and cuts later, Vince had a nicely trimmer shadow. Rinsing his face, he looked back into the mirror. He still didn't feel satisfied. Ideas running wild in his mind, he looked below the sink into the cabinet for the clippers. Finding them, he plugged them into the socket by the lightswitch. Vince took a deep breath and turned them on, his ears ringing with buzzing. He only trimmed his hair, leaving plenty in the front. Grabbing the styling gel from the cabinet, Vince created his very own faux hawk. Smiling at his hair, he exited the bathroom.

He dressed nicely, slipping on clean jeans, and a baby blue button-up. He grabbed his backpack, stuffing a change of clothes inside, and left the room. V walked down to Jayden's room, knocking and opening the door. She slung her own bag over her shoulders, smiling at her uncle.

"Is that a dress?" Vince asked increduously, looking up and down at his niece. She never wore dresses. She dressed like Letty.

"Is that a faux hawk?" Jayden asked in the same tone, looking at Vince's hair.

"Let's go," Vince rolled his eyes, shouldering his bag.

They left the house, tossing their bags in the back of the Maxima. Vince drove them to Neptune's Net. Walking inside, other eating patrons gave them strange looks, wondering the relationship between the two. Vince led her to a booth in the back of the restaurant.

"How may I help you two?" the waitress, a fire-red head asked, smiling brightly at Vince.

"Can I have an order of blueberry pancakes and bacon please," Vince said, looking at the menu. He closed it, smiling back up at the waitress politely.

"Make that two," Jayden said, smiling at the waitress. She looked at her uncle skeptically. "That's all your gonna eat?"

"Yeah, don't have much of a stomach for more," Vince dismissed. The sat in silence, waiting for their orders to come. The waitress came back with their orders, placing them down in front of them. Under Vince's plate was a slip of paper. Jayden snatched it and read it outloud.

"Call me sometime -Fionna." she read in astonishment. She laughed, tossing the paper at Vince. V smirked and grabbed the pen at the end of the table. He wrote on the back of the paper, holding it up for Jayden to read. "I'm happily married, firecrotch! Uncle V, that's mean!" Jayden laughed outloud, receiving looks from the other patrons.

They finished their meals and left the restaurant, leaving the note as is on the table. They watched from the car as Fionna read the note. Her eyes she huffed and stomped her foot, causing both Vince and Jayden to laugh at her reaction.

"Let's go to work," Vince said, reversing out of the parking lot.
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Pointless, I know. But writers block is getting the best of me. I'm trying to think of a way to get Vince and Sasha back together before Carter comes to town. Any ideas? Please review.
-Kita