Alrighty here's another update =) I'm glad you guys have been liking, so enjoy and let me know what you think =)

Reconnection
I'm too young to lose my soul
I'm too young to feel this old
For so long I'm left behind
I feel like I'm losing my mind
'World So Cold' by Three Days Grace
______________________________________

"Are you okay?" Natalie asked, squeezing Billy's hand.

"Mmhmm"

"…and we're okay?"

"As far as I know," he nodded blankly.

Natalie was still skeptical of his answers but just returned to tapping her foot, annoyed with how long this was taking, and keeping an eye on Logan.

They were at the store. She'd been watching Logan for the night when Billy showed up and she had to run to the store to pick up a few things for Julia like she promised. She'd told Billy it would be okay for him to stay at the house since her parents had been out of town all weekend and wouldn't be back until the next day, but he'd seemed annoyed at the idea so he went with them. His only stipulation was that he'd insisted to drive even if it was her car.

By now, though, standing in line to check out, he was wishing he'd stayed at her house. Natalie hadn't taken long to get what she'd told Julia she would, but he wasn't enthralled with this domestic shopping shit, nor was he any longer finding Logan's excitement about being out-and-about entertaining like he had for the first few minutes. Besides that, he was beat and wasn't having the best day to begin with.

Plus there was the fact that he hadn't even been aware that Natalie was watching Logan for the night…maybe that's what he got for not calling.

The last time he'd seen her, the previous night, they'd argued. For reasons Billy still hasn't asked about, Heco had been waltzing around in a nice part of town (so he definitely hadn't been on his corner, a fact Billy intended to address next time he saw the halfwit) and he'd seen Natalie with another guy. When he'd called Billy to fill him in he'd neglected to mention that Paige was there, too, and that the guy had been Joel.

Billy could admit, now, that he'd flown a little off the handle. But, after fighting with Natalie the weekend previous, they'd been a little quieter and hadn't spent a lot of time together. Anyway, he'd bombarded her in her room about going off with other guys and they'd bickered until she got him to stay quiet for two minutes so she could explain. That's when he found out Paige had been with them and "the guy" was Joel; Billy didn't like the guy because he'd deduced by now that he was attracted to Natalie, but he also wasn't threatened by him.

Fucking Heco.

Not that Natalie had accepted that excuse of blaming Heco for misinterpreting the situation. According to her, he needed to trust her and respect her enough to give her the benefit of the doubt and a chance to explain before jumping down her throat…..blah, blah, blah, like he didn't already feel like an idiot. He'd wanted to stay and make it up to her all night but he had shit to finish; he'd left the underpass after Heco's call -- waste of fucking time.

And now here he was, standing in line at a department store with his woman and the chirpy blonde munchkin. Fuck. He didn't want to be there; he was too tired for this... he just wanted to be with Natalie. He was having a rough few weeks; it was starting to look like some bastards were trying to sell on his turf which would explain why they were consistently short on their payments.

Billy shoved the thoughts away. The boys were running shit and keeping an eye out; he could relax for one damn night.

He sighed in relief when Natalie got up to the counter and set down the things she'd grabbed for her damn sister-in-law; now he could start counting down the time.

"No, Logan," Natalie nudged him away when he started to tug on her fleece sweatshirt. "Just be good for a couple more minutes."

Logan hummed and hopped over to look at the display of odd knock-knacks in the aisle. He started wandering like he might dash from the lane so Billy dropped a hand onto his head and steered him back closer since Natalie was distracted by the cashier. Logan clearly didn't know yet that it was best to take Billy seriously, and he darted towards freedom again and Billy, again, directed him back.

"No messing my hair," Logan tried to tell him sternly, fists planted on his hips with a faux-frown.

Annoyed, Billy cocked his arms to rest his hands on his hips and glare down at Logan sternly. Billy didn't care if he was just a kid; he'd stare him down. Logan appeared to falter for a moment, but he still just wasn't sure what to make of Billy so he shrugged and turned to make an exit again.

Throwing up his hands in exasperation, Billy caught Logan around the waist and lifted him up to hold him where he could control him. Logan settled on Billy's hip naturally; it felt strange to Billy but he didn't find him heavy and held him easily.

"Wow; this is high, Billy!" Logan cheered.

Natalie looked over her shoulder and smiled when she saw the two, even though Billy looked annoyed.

"Oh, oh, I want that, I want that," Logan began to squirm, spotting his favorite candy on the shelf now that he was up high enough.

"Forget it," Billy grunted.

"Aw! I want it; it's yummy," Logan whined, reaching for the Reeses even though he was a few feet away. "Awww!"

Billy cursed under his breath. The last thing he needed in his life right now was a damned headache, and he wasn't convinced that Logan's whining wouldn't cause one. He couldn't believe he was caving to this half-person, but he snatched the candy and threw it on the counter as Natalie took the bags she'd already paid for. He dug into his back pocket and a few moments later tossed a $5.00 at the cashier women.

"Keep the damn change"

"Ooooh! Bad word, bad word," Logan chanted.

"Ya want this or not?" Billy asked, holding up the candy as they headed for the exit.

Logan clamped his mouth shut with a childish twinkle in his eye and Billy pushed the candy at him with a groan.

"You have to try to remember not to swear; he repeats things," Natalie said quietly.

Billy turned a blank look to her, just trying to keep his annoyance from making him snap.

"Help me, Billy," Logan pleaded.

Billy closed his eyes for a long moment before he turned back to the other male, seeing a candy in its wrapper being waved around near his face. Billy snatched it and used his mouth to rip the corner off before handing it back, Logan still perched on his hip merrily.

"That was really nice of you to get him," Natalie told him, slipping her hand in his and raising it to her mouth to kiss.

"I just wanted him t' shut up," Billy confessed.

"Still… …what do you say, Logan?"

"Thanks a lot, Billy!" Logan announced, wrapping his arms around Billy's neck.

Billy stiffened and leaned his head away a little, but Natalie could've died it was just too cute. Her heart swelled and she squeezed Billy's hand. Billy glanced her way when Logan finally let him go, and he caught the happy look on her face but he ignored it.

"Trade ya," Billy suggested when they got to the car, grabbing her bags and lowering Logan to her so she could get him strapped into his car seat; he wasn't going to bother attempting.

Natalie got Logan secured and then got into the passenger seat while Billy dropped heavily into the drivers' seat and fired up the engine. He rested his forearm on the center console and his other hand was propped high on the steering wheel, trying to direct them back to her house as quickly as possible. To do so he sped a little and he was actually surprised Natalie didn't chastise him, since she'd made sure to tell him to drive careful on the way out from the house since they had Logan; maybe she knew she'd be pushing her luck to ask much of him right now.

"No, I want Billy, he's tall!" Logan announced when Natalie tried to get him from the back. "Billy, are you out there?"

"C'mon Logan…hey, stop kicking!" Natalie scolded him, catching his foot before he could hit her but he stayed squirmy; maybe he was getting tired early…great, two cranky boys.

"Hey! Cut it out!" Billy barked from where he was ducked to grab the bags for Natalie.

Logan jumped and froze, simply blinking at Billy.

"Ya gotta make people think you'll actually hurt 'em," he muttered to Natalie's surprised look; she, too, had jumped.

Billy reached out and pulled off the booster seat strap that Natalie had already unlatched and scooped Logan out. Logan clung to his thick arm as Billy pulled him across the seat bench. He grabbed the bags in his other hand and kicked the door shut. Logan continued to blink at him for a few moments, unsure what to think, before smiling happily again; he was a very forgiving kid.

Natalie still looked surprised and closed the big garage door and opened the door into the house for Billy, who brushed past her.

"Are we gonna watch a movie?" Logan asked excitedly.

"Christ," Billy muttered, lowering the kid to his feet.

He ran his hand over his face once everything he was carrying was sat down and he watched dully as Natalie put her purse down and reached inside his pocket for her keys to set next to her purse before she unzipped her sweatshirt and tossed it aside.

"Hey, you can go upstairs to sleep in my room for a while if you want," she offered, slipping her arms around him slowly. "I can see you're tired…"

"Pretty beat," he combed his fingers through her hair.

"Then go use my bed," she urged again. "It's okay… I know this probably wasn't the night you wanted to have."

"Hardly," he rolled his eyes.

"You've been great," she thanked him, raising on her tip-toes to kiss his throat.

"…well I'm gonna go crash before I'm not-so-great," he sighed.

"Alright. Thanks for helping tonight," she whispered, kissing his lips before watching him trudge off towards the stairs.

"Where's Billy?" Logan complained when she entered the living room alone.

"He's taking a nap, so we're going to be really, really quiet," Natalie whispered with a playful face to make it seem like a game.

She got him changed into his pajamas while they played the "whisper-game" and put a movie in for him to watch. He sprawled around on the couch next to her quietly except to giggle now and then and point out silly things to Natalie even though she could see them for herself.

"Billy's nap is over," Logan hummed less than an hour later, swinging around his Woody Doll toy.

Natalie looking over her shoulder and, sure enough, Billy was at the end of the little hall leading in from the foyer.

"What's wrong?" she frowned; she didn't want him to have to leave and go work in his state.

"Nothin'…you're gonna have t' move though, midget," he grunted, walking in to bend and heft Logan up.

"Weeee"

Billy ignored the cheer and plunked him down in an armchair, pulling a blanket off the back to drop on him unceremoniously. Logan didn't mind and curled up with it quickly, tucking the blanket up under his chin. Billy dropped onto the couch and laid down, resting his head on Natalie's lap with his feet thrown over the armrest since he was too tall. His eyes closed immediately and his breath was pretty even; she had no doubt he'd be out quickly.

A few minutes later he groaned and rolled over, away from the TV, one leg curling a little so he could lay on his side and still fit. Natalie turned down the TV a couple notches and rubbed Billy's head and the back of his neck lightly. He sighed and rubbed his hand over her wrist lightly in thanks before letting it drop back onto the cushions.

When the movie ended Logan wasn't whining for a new one so she turned the TV on quietly for background for the two sleeping boys and opened her book back up. She should probably be getting Logan off to bed but she didn't want to wake up Billy so she left him; it wouldn't hurt him to stay curled up there for a while.

A few chapters and a couple crime-dramas later, Billy finally stirred.

"Always fuckin' reading," he grumbled, lifting a hand to block her view of the pages.

Natalie smiled and closed the book around her finger to mark her spot.

"It's a good book…"

He hummed just to show he'd heard her and turned his head into her leg further to get more comfortable, though his eyes were still open.

"Do you feel better?"

"Yeah," he nodded slowly. "How long was I out?"

"Couple hours I think"

He sighed and rolled onto his back, knees bent to fit properly, and scrubbed his hand over his face.

"You don't have to go do you?" she asked, trying not to sound too hopeful; she'd come to very much prefer nights together -- typically at his apartment anymore -- and having his presence there at night, but it had been a while since he was busy and they'd argued a couple times.

"Nah, not tonight"

She smiled. Of course there were no guarantees something wouldn't happen and demand his attention, but it was nice to know that at least he intended to stay all night.

"What's wrong?" she checked, tracing the frown his mouth was set in.

"Nothin'," he dismissed, rubbing his chin. "Just beat … … went and saw Joe today."

"Oh yeah -- how'd that end up going?" she asked brightly; she knew he looked forward to looking in on his little brother even though he tried not to let on.

"Good…he's doin' good. Keepin' his nose clean," Billy nodded.

"But…?" Natalie encouraged him to continue, as something was clearly o his mind.

"But…nothing. I just worry 'bout him."

"Of course you do; it makes sense."

He nodded slowly, staring up at the ceiling.

"I just want him t' be okay…it's the worse thing in the world t' be caged up; people ain't made for that, ya know? …I don't want him t' have t' change…"

Natalie listened silently, having the feeling she was the first to hear him voice these worries. She wasn't sure how much she understood since she didn't know much about jail, but she did know about loving your brother and worrying about him, so she could empathize. She looked down at Billy to see his eyes narrowed now, probably a conscious effort to not show emotion.

"Guess ya know what it's like, your brother bein' overseas and all," Billy nodded, mostly to get the focus off himself.

He'd seen the pictures on the mantle of her older brother in his marines garb. He was actually the spitting image of their grumpy-ass dad, but younger with lighter hair.

"Well yeah…he actually died, but I do know what you mean about worrying they'll come back different," Natalie whispered softly.

"Ah, fuck me," Billy groaned.

It was a fact that had never been brought up between them; Connor had never been a conversation topic, really.

"About two years ago now…"

"Shit; sorry…I'm a mood killer," Billy squeezed his eyes shut while cursing himself for mentioning it.

"No you're not…I'm usually okay talking about him now…Connor was a huge part of my life and I love him. And it's okay to worry about Joe -- it shows you love him…"

Billy nodded wordlessly and for a moment his eyes were unguarded. Natalie loved his eyes; they were beautiful, so bright and piercing…and expressive, though he rued her telling him that.

"You're hungry … want something?" she asked when she heard his stomach move; it also seemed like a good time to change the topic for him.

"Yeah," he sat up with a grunt, cracking his neck.

"Alright; I'll get Logan to bed and find you something"

He nodded and watched her get up and carefully gather Logan into her arms and carry him off. He watched and felt a little sorry for the kid being fatherless. Course, maybe it was better to have no dad than a shitty one like he and Joe had shared…

It was only a few minutes before Natalie was back downstairs and she found leftovers to warm up and bring out to him once he declared he didn't care what she had for him to eat as long as it wasn't expired. Natalie put away his dishes after he ate and picked up the room of Logan's toys since she'd forgotten to have him to it before movie-time. By then, Billy had laid down on the couch again and pulled Natalie down so she'd situate herself laid across him; she leaned against the back of the couch a little but for the most part she was on top of him because he took up most of the space.

She tangled her legs into his and laid her head over his chest where she could hear his heart, and there they laid for a while watching TV. Billy twirled her hair around and she tapped her fingers lightly on his side. She watched the TV in half interest, mostly just pleased to have him there instead of off exhausting himself on the streets, so she didn't realize Billy was hardly even looking at the TV; he was still thinking about Joe and shit going on….

"Keep a secret?" he asked out of the blue

"…yeah, of course," Natalie promised, surprised, as she lifted her head up to rest on her hand on his chest.

"…I didn't always wanna be in a gang…"

"…does anybody?" Natalie asked carefully.

"I dunno," he shrugged. "It's all I know now, so it seems natural…"

Natalie could tell he wasn't looking at her, just staring off at nothing in particular.

"…so what did you want to be?" she asked quietly, as if afraid being too loud would break whatever moment they were having that was making him open up.

"…a firefighter," he laughed cynically at his young-self.

"That's nice," she told him, even though she'd caught the tone of the distasteful way he'd said it.

"Nah…I think part of me always knew it'd never happen; I think I knew this is what I'd be doin'…"

Natalie cocked her head at him, but he seemed completely serious.

"…what do you mean? What kid thinks they're going to be a gang leader?" she asked, shaking her head.

He looked at her now and she was afraid maybe she'd pushed too far and sounded condescending, but he didn't look angry with her. He just seemed to be thinking and his arm around her waist slipped a little further around her, smoothing over her lower back.

"Ya know Bones I mention sometimes?"

Natalie nodded hesitantly. He came up once in a while when she was around and all the boys talked about him disdainfully, even somewhat fearfully. Billy himself got worked up when they came up short for paying Bones, reluctant to go to the man without all of the set money…she wouldn't say he was scared…but he kind of was.

"Yeah…that's my dad," he slowly admitted.

It wasn't a relation anyone mentioned; all the guys knew it but they just didn't talk about it. The only person who did bring it up was Bones himself…or maybe Joe sometimes, but he'd always backtrack cuz he knew it pissed Billy off.

Natalie's eyes widened visibly and Billy grinned humorlessly. There never was much of a choice for him. Bones had started him off young, running errands, and then it became all he knew. It became his life, and the streets became his world…and he was king.

"…I'm sorry," Natalie responded finally, at a loss for anything else to say; with the way the guys mentioned Bones, she could only imagine what it was like growing up with him.

"For Bones? …well, aren't we all," he sighed with a sort of a shrug, rubbing her lower back lightly as he thought.

Natalie watched his impassive face; she was thankful he'd shared but knew to mention it would be to ruin the moment. She'd wondered before what Billy's story was with his parents; if they were even around in his life and, if they were, what they thought of him and Joe. Now she was sad for him…sad he'd had to be born to a dad who he clearly hated; she obviously didn't have the story on his mom, but she didn't want to ask right now and she was imagining that couldn't be a happy story either. She wondered when things had changed for him, or if it had been a gradual twist…she was thinking she'd liked to have met young Billy.

Of course, once he started kissing her she was very glad to know grown-up Billy. He was kissing her softly tonight, taking his sweet time to work her mouth. Natalie pushed herself up to crawl up him slightly so he didn't have to duck to her so much. Her hair fell around them like a curtain and Billy pushed it away over her shoulders when she dropped to begin kissing down his neck. She kissed and lick down the side of his neck and started to suck lightly on his throat, nipping it lightly. Billy shivered when her teeth met his skin, and he wrapped his arms firmly around her and carefully rolled them without making them fall to the floor.

He settled her into the cushions beneath him and gazed down at her, carefully brushing some hair from her face to nuzzle her neck. He bit her back lightly to return the favor and grinned when she began pushing at his shirt, pulling it off when she got it most of the way up. Natalie stared at his lean, chiseled physique that she'd had as many opportunities as she wanted to memorize; he wasn't bashful about his body and it was easy to see why…sometimes his confidence was intimidating.

"Stop thinkin'," Billy ordered her, lowering himself back onto her to whisper in her ear.

His breath sent a chill running down her spine and she pulled his face back over to hers, kissing him deeply, still slowly. He set the pace and kept it languid, unrushed. Even when he shed the rest of his clothes and removed her pants to enter her, he moved within her slowly.

Natalie was falling in love with this night; he'd opened up to her and was now treating their time so tenderly, so intimately.

It's not that they'd been having nothing but rough sex, but it was typically more aggressive than this. They were more playful and fun most of their times together, but tonight was different, far more serious.

She moved her hands over his back and his broad shoulders slowly, rubbing her legs against his as she rolled her hips to meet him. He'd kiss her, nuzzle her neck, and slowly travel back to her mouth as his hands roamed her, traveling under her little t-shirt. His hands fisted in the thin fabric and be buried his face in her shoulder as she began to tighten around him. He groaned loudly, drowning out her soft moans, but rode it out for a while before he finished too.

He slipped out of her and pushed his hands into her hair to kiss her again, long and slow. He ran his fingers over her heated scalp, and finally rested his forehead against hers, moving his eyes to look down at her chest that was still heaving before she could catch her breath. He sighed in annoyance, now, that he'd never gotten her shirt off.

"C'mere," he growled softly, untangling his legs from hers to sit back and twist to sit right on the couch, pulling her up into his lap.

He wasted no time in ridding her of her shirt, dropping it away immediately. She traced his tattoos while he leaned forward and worked the clasp of her bra open dexterously. He threw that away as well and pulled her up tall on her knees, latching his mouth onto her soft breasts. She cradled his head to her and gasped, pulling herself closer to him as his teeth closed on the delicate skin. Feeling all of her bare skin against his pulled a groan from him, and even though they were both still panting he lowered her back into his lap to enter her again.

His large hands curled around her hips and guided her hips on him, pulling her the way he wanted. She rode him slowly, body pressed closely to him. His arms wrapped around her and splayed his hands over her back as she held his face to kiss him deeply. He curled his arms up behind her shoulders and leaned her back so he could bend forward and nuzzle her breasts as their hips continued to move in synch.

He straightened back up to pull her down further so he reached into her deeper. He groaned and continued to pull her down deeply but kept it slow and steady.

Natalie was moaning with each deep thrust and Billy pushed her away some, though she tried to pull herself back to him. He drank in her body as she rode him with half-closed eyes. Her hair was tousled, her face somewhat flushed, and her lightly tanned skin stretched as she arched her back. Natalie squeezed his shoulders and sighed contentedly when he pulled her back tight to him.

"You're beautiful," he whispered in her ear, biting at the shell of it, earning a gasp. "...you're perfect…perfect…so sweet…" he panted into her shoulder.

Natalie rested her cheek on the side of his head and began to whisper his name between the moans he roused out of her. Still she could hear him murmuring against her heated skin, telling her she was pretty and telling her how good she felt. She was pretty sure he mumbled out an apology for being an ass, but she may have been too lost by that point.

"Billy…"

Her gasps of his name were becoming shorter, her moans more desperate as her body tightened.

"Natalieugh"

Her name was followed by his guttural groan as he lasted only a few long moments after her.

He relaxed back against the couch and she rested forward to lean on his shoulder. Slowly, they regained their breath and Billy traced the line of her spine with a finger. Natalie burrowed into the crook of his neck with a sound of contentment, kissing the skin softly.

Looking at Billy one wouldn't guess he was even capable of being that gentle. She'd been sure he had gotten her hooked on rougher, more romping sex, but she bit her lip in pleasure, mentally reliving what they'd just done.

When they booth cooled off and calmed down they gathered up their things and quietly went upstairs. Billy emerged from the bathroom and unfortunately found Natalie in underwear and pulling on a tank top.

"Aw, Nat, c'mon," he sighed, annoyed.

"I have to," she sniggered. "If Logan needs something tonight or runs in, I can't be naked."

He wasn't sure if a "and neither can you" was implied there, but he found his boxers and pulled them on anyway. Natalie pulled on some shorts, too, so at least there was still a good amount of skin.

They both crawled into bed under the covers and Natalie curled up to his side. They didn't talk much more, both tired.

Just as third grade Billy Darley had known somewhere in him that he'd be working the streets someday, something deep down in him may have known that night that he loved her. But of course love wasn't something he thought of much, nor was it a concept he personally knew much of outside of the love he had for Joe and the love he'd thought his mother had for them before she split. He didn't know much of love; all he knew was Natalie was becoming someone he missed, the someone he looked forward to and wanted. He hesitated to say needed because Billy Darley didn't need nobody.

And yet Natalie had still made it closer to Billy Darely than most anybody else. He could recognize that, would admit it to himself before quickly ignoring the notion

He laid awake a little while longer after her, fingers playing with the ends of her hair idly. He soaked in the unfamiliar feeling of such intimacy…he wasn't sure what had gotten into him that night, but he'd wanted every part of her, wanted them together. It felt good…but he knew it was his calm before the storm, his place to be sane before getting bombarded. Tomorrow would be another long day, grinding it out to get by until they figured out exactly what the fuck was going on and fixed it.

He sighed deeply and rolled onto his side to face Natalie, pulling her to his chest and slowly falling asleep with her.

End of Chapter 11. Let me know what you thought; hope you've enjoyed.