It was a few months later that Billy came into the Four Roses only to see his gang all huddled up around something or the other. "Now what's so interesting I don't even get an hello?" he snarled. Billy might have turned a new corner and rid of personal demons, but he was still Billy Darley, one dangerous son of a – well, Billy's mom was a delightful lady, but you get the point.

"Hume's are divorcing." Heco murmured as he skimmed the article.

Billy stiffened in his steps. He was not very interested in anything that had anything to do with Nick right at that moment. He had changed a lot in the last few months. While he still looked scary beyond what was normal, he was nearly smooth shaven and his hair was longer. The guys had thought it was fitting that his hair was as wild as he was.

"Damn Billy. How did you pull that off?" Dog asked, "You said you'd gotten your revenge, but this is genius. How'd you do it?" The gang nodded in agreement. Breaking up a family was more of a revenge than just ghosting them.

"You really want to know?" Billy asked.

"Of course we do!"

"Give me a Kennedy's Miguel." Billy told the bartender and sat down at their usual table, a few seconds later the Spanish bartender slid the glass of whiskey to Billy. "You sure?"

"God dammit Billy! Just tell us!"

"Fine fine…" Billy swirled the amber liquid in his glass, trying to figure out were to start. "I've known Nick Hume for…" he took a deep breath, "- nearly nineteen years."

The bar was silent as the grave. The gang just stared at their leader, waiting for the punch line. Finally Bodie spoke up. "Nineteen years?"

Billy nodded, "Yeah."

Heco blinked rapidly, "But that's longer than you've known any of us!"

"I know."

"but…how?"

Billy sipped his drink and let his eyes rest on his friends…his gang. These men had taken him in and watched his back for nearly ten years, without asking any questions. It was time to give something back. Even if it was just a tiny bit.

"I met him back in Detroit when I was fourteen…"

--

Billy really hated ice-skating. He was a musician, not a hockey player, but his friends never seemed to understand that. No matter how much he protested, they would drag him onto the ice and make him play. He wasn't even any good! His friends had left now and it was only him and that guy sitting on the bench watching him. He didn't really know why he was still there. To prove Sweet wrong perhaps.

Billy Mercer-Darley did not suck at anything! He might not be the best, but he didn't suck. It certainly didn't help that he was so small – compared to the other guys at least. They were huge – compared to him. They all thought he was real brave when he had his tongue pierced a few months back, but now he was just Billy again; the musical progeny of Detroit Tech High. He had gotten signed a few months back and was working with some other guys to piece together some songs. They hadn't gotten real studio time yet, but they had a studio to play around in and record demos and samples that they could work with later.

Billy slid on the ice, back and forth, round and round. The guy sitting on the bench stood up and jumped into the rig. Billy slowed down and studied the stranger. "Hey," he said.

"Hey there, I saw you play earlier." The guy said. He was very tall...and broad…and fit...with smooth black hair and intense ocean blue eyes…why was he thinking that shit? He even had a rough goatee, just a few days old.

"Yeah…I saw you sitting there…" Billy said awkwardly. He really didn't know what to say. This guy was in his twenties. They didn't talk to kids like him – even if they were future rock stars.

"You really aren't that bad. Your technique is just a bit off. Though, just avoiding those guys so they don't level you with the ground is pretty well done." He chuckled.

Billy scowled, "If you just came to tease me about being small you can piss off!" he snapped and turned to skate away, but was caught by the wrist by a warm hand. The touch sent small jolts up his arm.

"I didn't mean to tease you –"

"You haven't even told me your name!"

"Neither have you." He countered.

"Billy Darley."

"Nick Hume - you played down at the Retro last week didn't you?"

Bily blushed and nodded. The blush was for two reasons; The show at the Retro he'd been slightly drunk….and he did stupid and things that no fourteen year old should do when he was drunk. The second this was that he was standing in front of one of the best hockey players in the league…and Billy yelled at him. "Yeah, that was me. I was drunk!"

"You were good! Quite cute too!" he chuckled, "Now how about that hockey? Want some help?"

The gang was staring at him like he'd grown a second head. Spike shook his head, "No fucking wonder you whop our asses at hockey!"

"That's the same Nick Hume? I had his hockey card!" Bodie exclaimed.

"I've got a signed …damn!"

"Yep, that's the same guy…" Billy said, his fingertips tracing the rim of the now empty glass.

"Excuse me," Billy glanced up, only to see something he had never seen in the Four Roses; an old lady. Make that a classy old lady. A big old classy lady with grey hair, half moon glasses and a pleasant smile on her face. "Which one of you is Billy Darley?" An old classy lady he knew…but hadn't seen in nearly ten years.

"Depends on who's asking." Bodie replied before Billy could say anything.

"Miss. Grey, Social Services. I believe I have something that belong to you, Mr. Darley." She said and set her steely grey eyes into Billy.

A/N; what do you think? worth continuing?

the 'Four Brothers' will join the plot line in a few chapters