Sorry there was once again a delay with updating. I'm still really busy getting back into the swing of school. It's my last year so i've been pretty busy...i've either been distracted with work and seeing old friends again. But here's chapter 25 - hope you enjoy.

Thanks for the continuing reviews

New Years
Lets just fix this whole thing now
I swear to god we're gonna get it right
If you lay your weapon down
'Heartbreak Warfare' by John Mayer
_

Natalie headed to her car in slight frustration. She'd waited for Billy for a while but was leaving because she didn't want to keep the kindly landlord stuck waiting, too. She and Paige had gone to check out the apartment building they wanted to move into, and Billy was still irked at the thought of her and Paige living alone and potentially unsafe so he wanted to see what the deal was with the place. Problem was he never showed.

They'd looked at it anyway and decided it was, indeed, ideal. Paige had left and Natalie had waited a little longer before bailing. It bothered her that he'd made a point about wanting to come and check it out only to ditch without a word.

"Natalie, right?"

She jumped and turned to see a rather heavy-set man with thick, out-dated glasses hefting himself out of a car idling by the sidewalk near the parking lot.

"Uh…"

"You are Natalie Shepherd, right? Billy's Natalie?"

Natalie blanched a little at that and blinked.

"Uh, yes…"

"Well he described ya to a T, then. Ya best come with me, sweetheart. There's been a bit of an emergency and Billy sent me for ya…."

"An emergency? Is he okay?"

"Fine, fine, but he didn't want ya by yourself. C'mon," he waved, trying to usher her forward.

This man was a little gross but, then again, none of the guys were exactly the most clean-cut.

"Umm…okay…"

She wasn't sure just how she felt about this but moved closer to the car anyway and he pulled open the door just as she was processing what she was hearing. A rumbling and then tires squealing to a halt across the street….

What was Billy doing here?"

That didn't make sense and she watched as Billy, wide-eyed, threw open his car door.

"I thought you s-"

She stopped when the stranger grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her closer to him.

"Ya really have no clue who I am, do ya sweetie?" he chuckled.

She shook her head and tugged her hand towards herself but it did no good. The shiver that passed through her then had little to do with the wintry air.

"Hey there, Nazi - nice day, ain't it?"

"The fuck are you doin here?" Billy glowered, stepping onto the sidewalk with Joe and Baggy with him.

"Just thought I'd come meet the little princess. Ya see how easy this was? All I had to do was follow her and she never even knew. Look at me right here and right now, fellas - see how easily I got your woman," Bones yelled, raising her arm to show-off his hold on her.

"Ya made your fuckin' point," Billy spat.

"Good, that's good:

His thick hand was holding her wrist tighter and tighter and Natalie wince from the pressure on her bones but couldn't pull free.

"Let her go," Billy ordered.

Not many people disregarded his warnings but this man didn't seem to care.

"I want you to remember this, Billy Boy. I've got the power. I could kill this bitch and you'd just have to stand and watch. You remember that and keep deliverin'."

Billy just glared, jaw clenched.

"And you," he whipped Natalie to face him, ignoring the tears threatening to spill over. "Ya might as well move on. He ain't worth it. None of 'em are; ain't worth a damn thing."

And with that he shoved her forcefully from him and she stumbled a couple steps before Billy darted forward to take her arm and quickly tuck her away behind him.

"I'll see ya soon for a delivery," the man spat out at Billy before going around to get back in his car.

Natalie took a shaky breath and wiped at her damp eyes. Joe patted her back sympathetically and once the car was gone Billy did a 180.

She expected some compassion, him to check if she was okay, but he still looked mad.

"Were you gonna get in that fucking car with him?"

"Uhh…"
"Were you?" he repeated, grabbing her shoulders for her attention.

"Well….yeah, I guess"

"Are you fuckin' stupid?" he spat, shaking her violently, making her head snap at the sudden movement.

"Whoa, man," Joe stopped him, pushing his shoulder lightly.

Billy let her go and she took a step back, feeling a little dizzy for a second.

"…was that Bones?" she guessed from the things he'd said to Billy.

"Yeah, that was fuckin' Bones," he bit, hands scrubbing the back of his head.

"Well I didn't know that," Natalie defended herself. "He just said something happened and you sent him. This isn't my fault."

"No," he shook his head. "You should've been there," he rounded on Joe.

"I was with you," Joe insisted. "Ain't my fault we were late. And I can't be watching her and doing errands with you at the same time…"

"Watching me?"

"No," Billy denied quickly. "Watching for Bones. I knew he found about you and I didn't want him near you. I was being cautious for a while…."

"Why didn't you tell me? I never would've gone to his car…."

"I didn't know if he'd actually do shit, so I didn't want you worryin'….you've been stressed out enough. And ya shouldn't be getting into anyone's car you don't know anyway."

"Don't make this my fault," she frowned at him.

They all stood there, quiet but tense, for a while.

"We should get out of here," Natalie announced.

"Right. Everybody back to the car"

"I have mine here," she reminded him, turning away towards the lot while she dug in her purse.

Billy threw his key at Baggy and followed Natalie. She shrugged him away when he tired to take her arm and he sighed deeply, accepting his place in the passenger seat.

"It wasn't your fault," he promised dully once they were on the road.

"I know that"

A couple of quiet minutes passed.

"I was scared"

"….I saw," he nodded.

"Then you shouldn't have treated me like that"

He simply nodded again, rubbing a hand over his head and looking to the window.

It was getting on in the evening by now so Natalie went to the apartment with the guys. They were going out for New Years that night - out meaning The Four Roses, of course. She had half a mind to go to Paige's to get ready but there wasn't much of a point. She showered and got ready quickly while the guys sat around in the living room.

She was in the bathroom in faded tight jeans and a bra, examining her hair.

"Leave it down," Billy requested, pushing open the door to see her holding hair away from her face and studying the reflection thoughtfully.

"Can you shut the door - I don't have a shirt on"

"They ain't payin' attention," he shrugged, leaning to rest a shoulder on the doorframe.

Natalie rolled her eyes and dropped her hair to hang past her shoulders again. A few unruly, wavy pieces needed to be straightened so she did this quietly despite the audience.

"I know New Years is a reason to get drunk, but can you make sure the guys aren't too out of line with Amanda?' she asked of Billy, eyes on the mirror.

"You're worryin' too much about it," he scoffed.

"Babe, I'm serious," Natalie sighed.

"Alright," he sighed right back. "I'll tell 'em to leave her alone," he conceded, stepping into the room and shutting the door.

"Thank you"

Part of Natalie couldn't believe she was bringing Amanda to the bar. She'd half expected Amanda to forget the offer and make other plans but apparently she was very curious and hadn't forgotten at all.

Billy moved behind her and rubbed her shoulders, probably a wordless way to tell her calm the fuck down about it. He'd already told her the guys would show her respect since she was family, but Natalie was worried Amanda would get uncomfortable and not say anything.

Billy gently caressed her neck, leaning forward to kiss the back of her head.

"Sorry if all I did was scare you more earlier," he mumbled into her hair.

She looked into the mirror but couldn't meet his eye because his head was down; she took that as a sign of submission, that he'd been wrong.

"You did…but I forgive you"

"….Bones is the quickest way to piss me off, and seein' him with you…."

"I know"

"You're pissed," he said knowingly, straightening up again.

"I forgive you, but that doesn't mean I liked it"

He nodded.

"…and you can't touch me like you did," she elected to tell him, watching him in the mirror.

His face tightened.

"I know that; I just -"

"I know why you did it, but you just can't"

"Ya know I'm not lookin' to hurt you," he nodded agreeably.

She knew that but she had to tell him. She supposed what he'd done hadn't been all that bad but it could've easily gotten so…she'd certainly been scared for a moment and had had the feeling that she would've been shoved into a wall and cornered had a wall been available. She'd been in that position before - granted, the guy hadn't been her boyfriend - and the déjà vu scared her. She couldn't let this be that kind of relationship, she really couldn't. He had a temper, fine, it as alright. He got angry about stuff sometimes and they'd argue, but it was communication; he was never simply demeaning to her, just angry. The way he'd grabbed her…just didn't sit right.

Billy ducked and kissed her bare shoulder, seeing she was deep in thought for a moment. Her attention turned back to Billy as his hands skimmed down her back and around to her stomach. She watched his hands dance across her naked skin and looked up to watch his mouth, which was working across her collar bone to suck at her neck. She found it kind of hot to watch him at work and he must've noticed the hitch in her breath.

"Ya like that?" he grinned, pulling her flush against him.

She flushed and dropped his gaze for a second.

"I have to finish getting ready," she told him reluctantly, leaning forward to put on some make up.

"Not right now you don't"

"Yes," She laughed. "I have to go get Amanda, too."

He grumbled about this, tracing the line of skin just above her jeans. She shivered but swatted his hand away with a soft smile.

"Want to go grab a top for me?"

"What am I, your fucking personal stylist," he muttered, exiting.

She wasn't even sure she expected him to actually comply with her request, but he returned momentarily and tossed her a black shirt - of course it would be black. It had enough of a V-neck that he'd get some cleavage and was short-sleeved since it got hot in the bar. An acceptable choice overall.

She quickly finished getting ready and left to pick up Paige, then out to Amanda's. The poor girl didn't know what to wear since she didn't know the people or the place, but they got her into some dark jeans and a red top with ¾ length sleeves that wrapped around her shoulders, leaving most of her collar bare.

They stuck around for a while before making an exit and getting a mini-interrogation from Amanda's dad. Natalie assured her uncle that there were guys there they knew to keep an eye on them, and Paige's boyfriend worked there so it was cool. He let them walk out without a hassle.

"Why didn't you tell him about your boyfriend too? That would've made him feel better don't you think?" Amanda asked on the way to the car.

"Um, I didn't want him mentioning it to my dad," Natalie admitted.

"Oh, right," Amanda laughed, getting it.

It was mildly late by the time they got to the bar and Natalie didn't get out of the car right away.

"Amanda, look…I was serous when I said this wasn't a club like we went to the other night. If you're uncomfortable it really is okay; we'll go somewhere else if you tell us."

"Yeah we see these idiots all the time," Paige laughed.

"Right. We can leave."

"I want to at least meet these secret guys. They're obviously important to you…"

"Alright. Just don't feel obligated to want to stay"

Amanda agreed and they hurried inside out of the cold. Natalie watched her cousin study the place with a careful eye, but she wasn't running away so that was good. The boys caught sight of them and hollered over, whistling playfully. They waved but directed Amanda to the bar, both for some liquid courage and, as Paige put it, to pace her

"Your friend better be 21, girls," Sammy laughed, approaching them.

"Oh, I am," Amanda promised.

"He's kidding," Natalie informed her, stopping her hand that was reaching in her pocket for her ID. "He doesn't actually care, but she is 21."

"Sorry, didn't mean to give new girl a hard time," he chuckled.

"This is my cousin Amanda. Amanda, Sammy"

"Nice to meet you, sweets; what can I get ya?"

They ordered and hung up at the bar to talk and relax.

"Boooo!" Tommy yelled at them for staying away.

Paige flipped him off.

"Feisty! I like it!" he hollered at her, earning a smack from Baggy.

"So which one is Billy?" Amanda asked quietly.

Natalie twisted to gesture to him where he sat next to Joe. As if he felt her attention, he looked over, smirking when he saw he was the focus of he girls' attention.

"Holy shit….guess the bad boy thing really was no joke," Amanda didn't know whether to be impressed or nervous.

"Told you"

Natalie was still watching him and he crooked a finger at her to invite her over but she held up a finger for him to wait. They finished their drinks first and ordered seconds before heading back. Billy snapped his finger for Joe's attention and said something. Joe hopped up and grabbed two chairs to put between him and his brother; Natalie and Amanda sat there while Paige grabbed a seat with Baggy.

Joe happily greeted Amanda and introduced her to the guys while Natalie greeted Billy with a kiss.

"…this is Amanda," she pinched her cousin's leg to get her attention even though general introductions had been made.

"Ow! - nice to meet you, Billy," she blushed for the outburst when Billy chuckled at her.

"Don't worry; she does that pinching shit to me, too," he grinned.

"Only when you're bugging me," she laughed, pinching his side lightly in jest.

He rolled his eyes and she snickered at that, too.

Amanda watched in disbelief as her cousin joked with this rough beast of a man. He was too hard to Natalie's soft…it didn't look right and yet it looked perfect at the same time.

Joe got her attention again before she could waste too much time trying to figure them out, and she got caught up in conversation with him.

"Honey, you sure you're in the right place?" some redhead inquired of Amanda while her and Natalie were up at the bar with Angela later.

"Huh?"

"Hey, back off," Natalie ordered, leaning around Amanda to shoo the skank away; sure, Amanda still looked slightly uncomfortable there, but the women didn't have to point it out.

"Don't be a bitch. It was just a question," the girl sneered; she looked high.

"Yeah, well we don't want to look at you," Angela waved her off.

"Tough. I'll do whatever the hell I want," the girl planted her ass on the stool.

"Dumb whore," Angela muttered.

Natalie rolled her eyes and maneuvered her surprised-looking cousin over between her and Angela in case the woman had anything else to say.

"You get used to it," she promised.

"I figured from the way you talked to her," Amanda giggled, still looking startled.

"Eh, she's on something; you have to be firm," Angela dismissed.

"On something?"

"Yeah…ya know; drugs. Meth or something'," Angela nodded as they took their drinks back to the table. "Plenty of pros are doin' something."

"…was that a hooker?"

"Wouldn't be a surprise," Angela shrugged.

"I don't know if I've ever actually seen a prostitute before…" she admitted.

"Well take a good look," Angela laughed.

"What's so funny?" Bodie inquired.

"Nothing," Natalie answered quickly to save Amanda embarrassment, for the guys would surely laugh.

She watched Amanda get up later and go play darts with Joe. She was glad Joe was invested in keeping her attention; it meant the other guys would leave it alone. Besides, Billy had been right; they were being nice since she was there with them.

As for her and Billy, they were okay if slightly tense because of the incident earlier. It was better since they'd talked but it kind of hovered around, lingering in their minds.

"Come get a drink with me," Billy coaxed once her drink was gone.

"Um, I don't know…I'm driving Amanda back tonight"

"So?" he shrugged airily. "It ain't even midnight; you can have a shot with me."

He was well on his way to drunk already but he was right, so she allowed him to pull her from the table.

One shot turned into two and they stayed at the bar talking and Billy even freely made a comment about how Joe was going to nail Amanda.

"Billy!"

He caught her hand as it approached him.

"Always fuckin' pinching…."

"Well I figure you'll take that better than hitting," she joked.

"You can do anything you want to me," he informed her.

He used his hold on her hand to tug her closer to kiss her. Before Sammy could make his usual lame joke about PDA at the bar, they stumbled away blindly, arms around each other. Natalie was pretty sure they meant to get back to the table but soon Billy was backing her down the dim side hallway.

"What're you doing," she detached from his mouth to breathe once they stumbled into the girl's bathroom.

"What I wanted to do earlier," he decided, ducking to look for feet in the stalls before twisting the bathroom lock.

"Billy…"

She sounded unsure but couldn't deny a flame of excitement flickered to life when she heard the lock snap. Billy grabbed her and kissed her again, hoping he'd caught her in the right mood because he wanted to touch her.

"You were saying?" he pulled back to ask.

He'd had enough alcohol by now to be easy and relaxed; he was certainly pleasant tonight.

So she shrugged and kissed him again, just letting go this evening. Maybe Paige would prove right and sex in a public place - or semi-public since the door was locked - was something worth trying at least once.

Billy kissed her hungrily and eventually backed her up until her butt hit the counter. He turned her around and smirked at their reflection.

"You wanted to watch earlier…" he reminded her playfully.

She smiled a little and blushed looking at her flushed visage and her hair that was mussed a little from his hands.

"Don't be embarrassed. You're beautiful…fuckin' sexy," he ground out into her ear as he slid his hands up her shirt.

Her shirt rode up slightly and she watched his hands explore her skin. Her breathing increased some in anticipation and he didn't waste a lot of time getting his fingers to her jeans and easily undoing them. She watched him push them down her hips a little bit and then one arm wrapped around her, one hand squeezing her breasts while the other pulled aside her underwear.

She moaned softly as he touched her, rubbing between her legs and slipping fingers inside of her. She watched him with his mouth on her neck, one hand groping her, the other disappearing between her thighs. She could see it like it wasn't happening to her but it most definitely was because she could sure as hell feel it, too.

"Oh my God…" she breathed.

He built her up quickly but stilled his hand for a moment, though he continued to suck on her neck and explore her body elsewhere. One of her hands rested on his forearm and she clawed it lightly as she arched into his large hand on her chest. He slipped his finger back inside her then, earning a pleasured gasp. He was loving it, too; she could feel him growing hard against her back .

Someone knocked agitatedly on the door, startling them both.

"Fuck off!" Billy yelled, not even stopping.

Natalie chuckled, head tipping forward a little, but he gave her hair a small tug to lift it back up to look in the mirror. She met his eye in the mirror and didn't even bother flushing in the face of his grin. This felt too damn good to be embarrassed about it now. Maybe later she'd blush about it, but now she found herself groaning as he added his second finger again; she leaned forward to plant her hands on the counter, head falling forward.

He tutted playfully and pulled her back to him, his hand curling around her throat. Her breath hitched and he chuckled deeply against her neck. She concentrated on his hand working inside her and her eyes drifted closed, lips loosely parted.

"Open 'em," he growled, his breath hot on her ear.

She did so and reached a hand back to grab at his shirt, whimpering as his finger curled inside her. He did this again and rubbed her with his thumb. She moaned and her eyes fell shut again as she began to breathe heavier. She heard Billy grunt and then he squeezed his hand against her neck quickly and tighter than usual. Her eyes snapped open again, knowing that's what he wanted, and she grabbed his elbow instinctively. He loosened his hand once he got what he wanted and she trailed her hand up his arm to grab his thick upper arm.

She studied the mirror, never before knowing it would be a turn-on to be able to watch themselves. She leaned forward slightly to get a better peek down at his hand below her waist but he pulled her back again, head against his chest, and held her neck more firmly.

"They're open," she breathed with a quirk of the corner of her lips.

He smirked and pushed his fingers further into her. She gasped and her toes curled; she knew she'd be falling apart soon.

She watched herself give herself to him, marveling at her trust in him. He dropped his head to nip at her jaw and massaged her throat, applying and releasing pressure. She stared at the hand on her throat and it occurred to her that she'd never let anyone touch her quite like that, had strangely never trusted anyone as much as she trusted Billy Darley. She knew it sounded backwards but she was suddenly filled with an overwhelming feeling of trust. Why else would she let her touch her whenever he wanted; why would she give him so much control? She didn't think twice anymore about letting him wrap her neck in his large hands and felt comfortable letting him manipulate her throat, essentially threatening the air that gave her life.

Natalie groaned again and continued to watch, staring at his hands on her. She wasn't sure how they'd gotten here, how she'd ever learned to trust a gang lord with her life but she didn't care. She knew a year ago she'd never believe that she'd fall in love with this man, but she had and she liked it.

"Billy," she gasped, trying to turn her head to kiss the lips that were traveling her face.

He didn't let her just yet, firmly holding her head in place by tightening his hand slightly on her throat. She moaned and rested her head back languidly, continuing to watch through hooded eyes. She felt a rumble of a laugh in Billy's chest but didn't care. She knew he liked to think it was "kinky, and sexy as fuck" that she was into letting him choke her sometimes, but she also knew that he got it. He got off on the power of essentially holding her life in his hand and she just as well appreciated the authority of allowing him to; there was power in some kinds of surrender, or so she'd found.

She felt the pleasure in her stomach building and she reached her hand from his arm up to the back of his head, scraping his scalp as her body tightened and she watched as she lost it in his arms.

He let go of her neck and turned her head to kiss her finally as he worked her down. When he removed his hand from her she turned fully and wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss him deeply even though her breath was still short and panting.

"Damn," he chuckled when she finally let go. "What?" he asked when she just settled back down on flat feet again and gazed up at him.

"Nothing," she decided; she didn't want to make the mood sappy right there in the bathroom of the bar.

They kissed again and she pushed her hands down to feel him through his jeans. Slowly, she started to sink down but he pulled her back up by the arms.

"Ya don't have to; I know ya don't wanna do that in here," he told her, well aware of her previous feelings on fooling around back here.

"You caught me in a good mood; besides, what I really don't want is my bare ass on that counter," she teased.

She wasn't a fan of the floor once she got down there so she knelt on the toes of his steel toe boots, which he seemed to find mildly amusing. She kept one hand on him while she undid his belt and then his jeans.

A long, deep groan pulled out of him when she got her mouth on him and he buried one hand in her hair, though her tried not to push on her, and the other planted firmly on the counter. She glanced up a few times to watch him staring intently at her, chest heaving. She worked him efficiently and his knees buckled slightly when he came, but he straightened again quickly. She secured his jeans back up and redid his belt before slowly rising. He slung an arm low around her waist and nuzzled her neck as he regained a normal breathing pattern, thoughts lingering on her tongue and her throat….

When he straightened he took a deep breath and righted her jeans for her, too, as they were still left unbuttoned. Natalie skirted him to actually use the bathroom for it's intended purpose. When she emerged, zipping her jeans, she found him washing his hands. She caught his eye in the mirror and winked, kissing his shoulder before washing hers too. She wiped at some makeup in the mirror and then let him usher her towards the door while she ran her hands through her hair to smooth it.

She unlocked the door with a self-satisfied grin and stepped out, only to freeze in the doorway, which caused Billy to bump into her. There she stood, mouth dropped open slightly as she watched Joe and Amanda make out in the dimly lit hallway.

"That's my boy," Billy laughed loudly once he saw them too.

The two pulled apart and Amanda blushed quickly, biting her lip.

"What're you lookin' at?" Joe shrugged.

"You, jackass; it's not midnight yet," Natalie grinned, deciding to go with being amused for now.

"Oh yeah, and what the hell were you doin' in there," Joe smirked knowingly.

"Joe, let's grab a beer," Billy nodded out towards the bar.

"What?"

"Let's grab a beer," he repeated.

Joe made a childish face but followed his brother anyway and Natalie sent Billy a thankful look that he nodded blandly at; Joe should go ahead and get some as far as he was concerned, but he knew Natalie felt Amanda was her responsibility.

"Are you drunk?" Natalie checked.

"No… are you mad?" Amanda cringed.

"About Joe? No. I was just making sure you knew what you were doing," Natalie grinned.

"Oh, yeah…Joe's nice," Amanda shrugged a little shyly.

Natalie nodded and glanced out at the brothers before looking back at Amanda's knowing look.

"We have sex in normal places, I promise," Natalie laughed, as Amanda had only heard of some of her and Billy's raunchier escapades.

Amanda laughed along with her now that she knew Natalie wasn't upset and they joined the guys at the bar.

Joe wrapped an arm around Amanda and held a hushed little conversation with her, likely asking what that had been all about.

"Sammy, a drink for my girl," Billy ordered.

There was a beer in front of him, along with two shot glasses, one empty and one full.

"Just a coke, Sam"

"Fuck that," Billy shook his head.

"I have to drive later; I'll have a drink at midnight but I don't want to even push it"

Despite what Billy had said Sam slid a Coke to her rather than alcohol.

"Sure ya don't want this?" Billy asked, raising his glass.

"I'll survive without," she grinned, watching him throw it back.

"My man," she crooned teasingly.

"Got that right"

He slung his arm around her shoulders and took them back to the table. They made out heavily at midnight; everyone did, regardless of the girl they grabbed to get it done. Paige cheered when she saw Amanda and Joe kissing and many of the guys joined in, making Amanda blush but Joe was far too used to them to be effected.

"When the hell did you do this?" Billy frowned, tugging her ponytail a few hours later.

"Like five minutes ago," Natalie laughed; she'd been sitting right there next t him while she pulled it back. "It's hot in here."

He grunted with a nod; he liked it better down but he supposed he like being able to see her soft, sleek neck.

Everyone else could see it too.

"Well looky here," Tommy laughed sloppily, reaching over from the chair over to rub his finger over the bite on her neck that Billy had left earlier that night.

She slapped his hand away and the guys laughed; Billy just looked smug about the whole ordeal. Amanda was happy to witness the exchange as well, getting to see that the guys weren't making fun of her earlier; they just gave everyone a hard time in a good natured way.

"They're just jealous," Billy murmured, kissing her cheek. "I love you," he added slowly, nuzzling her neck.

Natalie smiled.

"Aw, say it," he told her quietly.

"I love you too," she assured him, turning to kiss his cheek in return.

"Yeah…I fuckin' love you," he repeated, somewhat slurred, continuing to leave his face against her neck.

She just smiled; Billy was a happy drunk tonight and out to play. He straightened after a while and finished off his beer.

"You do know I love you right, cuz I fuckin' do…" he told her again, running his finger down her nose, watching the progression with glazed eyes.

"Yes, I know," she nodded, taking his finger to pull his hand down and rest it in her lap. "You're happy tonight."

"Why wouldn't I be?" he shrugged contentedly, twirling her ponytail around his fingers.

He leaned in and kissed her jaw and let his lip graze across her cheek.

"Billy," she laughed, leaning away.

"Huh? Nobody cares…you don't mind do ya Tommy?" Billy lifted his head a little to look up.

"Nah bro," Tommy chuckled.

"He's a good man," Billy pointed a finger in his general direction.

"Maybe it's time to leave," Natalie suggested with a grin.

"Nah, it's cool. It's fine

"No I have to get Amanda back anyway…if we're too late her dad won't trust me," she laughed.

"…I trust you," Billy shrugged.

"Good to know….c'mon. Amanda, we should go…Joe, you comin'?"

He nodded quickly and got up with Amanda while Natalie tugged Billy from his seat.

"You need help?" Bodie offered from where he was lounged with Angela.

"No, Joe's here if I have trouble"

"Yo, why doesn't Amanda just crash at our place?" Joe asked as they made their way to the door.

"Then her dad would be suspicious of me…the last thing I need is her dad talking to my dad and figuring out where I brought his baby girl," Natalie laughed.

"Sad but true," Amanda nodded.

The younger two were in front, Joe's arm around her waist. Natalie was bringing up the rear with Billy, who's arm was over her shoulders while he leaned on her a little heavily.

"I think …I drank more than I thought…" he decided after stumbling down the front step of the bar.

"Teaches you to think then," Natalie teased.

"Hey," he warned, though the threat fell flat as the finger he pointed was unsteady. "Ah, fuck it," he shrugged. "You're just lucky I love you…"

"We heard that already," Joe threw back at them.

"Ah, fuck you Joe," Billy shrugged again carelessly. "I really do though…I'd do anything for you," he whispered, head a little unsteady.

Natalie just smiled up at him and managed to get him to the car, pushing him in the back seat with Joe.

"You're good?" Natalie checked when she pulled into Amanda's driveway.

"Yup"

"I'll walk you up," Joe offered quickly.

"No, my dad"

"I'll be sneaky," Joe winked, getting out of the car to meet her and walk her up the driveway.

Billy was mumbling something unintelligible about that exchange but Natalie watched with a small smile as Joe kissed her just outside of the light from the front porch. She didn't know what she thought about Joe and Amanda together, but she'd figure that out later.

"Billy!" she gasped when he was suddenly pulling his large frame up into the front from the space between her seat and the passenger seat.

"What?" he grunted.

"This is the most difficult way you could've gotten up here," she groaned, turning her head away lest she get hit with a disoriented limb.

He managed the feat, though, and settled into the seat, straightening his coat with a pleased look about him.

"You're pretty," he announced after gazing at her for a while.

He traced her face with a finger and traced her bottom lip before leaning in to kiss her. The kiss was slow and short before he leaned back to his side of the car and rested his head back.

"Fuckin' beat, though…"

"We'll get back and get you to bed…"

"I'm not a kid," he sighed, though he didn't protest the idea or the hand rubbing his arm.

"I know…" she agreed.

"Fuuuuuuck"

He leaned forward quickly and laid on the horn.

"Billy, my uncle!" Natalie screeched, pulling his arm away.

"Oh yeah….oh well, Joe'll come now," he grinned in triumph.

Sure enough Joe waited like a little gentleman while Amanda hurried inside before jogging back to the car.

"What the fuck?" he spat.

"Shut it Joe," was Billy's easy reply. "You pissed I did that?" he asked Natalie.

"No," she shook her head with a short laugh, backing out.

"Good….cuz I love you, ya know that…"

"Christ…" Joe breathed; happy drunk was better than the pissed-and-drunk-Billy, but this continuous line was getting ridiculous.

"Yeah, I know Billy," Natalie smiled, reaching over to take his hand.

"Good," he nodded, twining his fingers with hers.

And it was good.

And that's that; let me know what you think. R and R