Disclaimer: I do not own anything that does not have my name written next to it in pretty pink pen. I only own my own fictional characters, this include my OFC Nicola Andrews and her family. I also do not own any of the songs used to write this story…except on CD.

Reviews etc. are always appreciated and adored.

Summary: "Do you remember that time I fell out your window and you came jumping out after me?" There was a twinge of humour to her husky voice and Leon smiled for her benefit. For three years he let himself believe that he would always save her from everything, until he was the reason she was in that ambulance, a broken back and their baby was gone.

Playlist:

Complicated – Avril Lavigne

Don't Fight It- The Panics

Swans – Unkle Bob

Swallowed in the Sea- Coldplay

Mslettyortiztorretto- my computer in all its gayness cut my little note to you out in my last chapter so SORRY! But thanks for the review and I hope you like what's happening now…let me know x

Gingermegs- Haha I know I kind of made him a bit of a sweetie just cause I could. Thanks as always and I'm glad you're liking it! x

Thanks also to Tasha for the review =D

August 1997- You're the apple of My Eye

Staring at the piles of suitcases in her bedroom Nicola felt tears well up in her eyes but she wiped them away quickly. It's only nine months until next summer she told herself. There was a knock on the door and Tyson was standing there, his blonde hair sticking up and Nicola smiled over at him.

"Hey, you ready to go?" he asked, taking in the scene and shifting awkwardly. If Nicola had learnt anything in the last few weeks with him it was that he didn't talk feelings, didn't like confronting situations and really didn't like Leon. It struck her as weird because being at the Torettos house was one big confronting situation.

She hated leaving so soon. Letty had been staying with her the last few days at her Dads house because Dom had cheated on her yet again, this time with some girl down in Chinatown. Letty had thrown a lamp at Doms head which had then smashed into pieces when it hit the wall behind him, leaving a dent in the plaster that resulted in Letty running very quickly to her car and turning up at Nicolas. Opening the door to her had been a surprise and for once she was glad she was in her own house again. Even if the reason was because her and Leon weren't talking.

Ever since Nicola had nursed Leon all through the night he'd shut down. She'd woken up hours later to find him and his Chevy gone and then he managed to ignore her for the next few days before Nicola got pissed off and left. Something in that house made men stupid and women crazy.

The few times she'd been back with Tyson was after a race to see Mia and maybe get Leon to say something which often resulted in her trying to break up a fight between Leon and Tyson and having to leave with her head down in shame.

She'd even avoided the garage, and worked in the store with Mia, avoiding being there at lunchtime.

And now she was leaving the next day on a plane to New York. Mia had begged her to come around for dinner. She missed Nicola, so did everyone else.

"Thanks for this." She said as she and Tyson made their way from the house.

"Yep." She climbed in the silver Camero and stared down at her hands in the lap of her jeans, her yellow chucks sticking out the bottom of the dark denim.

Dinner had become a large barbeque Nicola realised as Tyson pulled up outside the front of the Echo Park house. There were cars everywhere and she saw a few faces she recognised make their way up the drive.

"Seems like a crowd. You want to come in?" She turned to Tyson and he nodded before switching off the engine and walking up the drive holding her hand.

"Ah it's the woman of the moment." Dom laughed as he flipped sausages on the barbeque and wrapped and arm around her, pulling her into his side.

"Thanks." Nicola muttered and tried to slink away but Vince appeared in front of them, a cheeky grin on his face.

"Hey La." He picked her up and spun her around. When he finally put her down she swayed slightly and leaned on Tyson for balance.

"Whoah, dizzy." She laughed and Vince rolled his eyes.

"You're such a sook. You want a beer man?" He looked over at Tyson for the first time and handed Tyson a beer before he even answered.

"Not too many you've got to drive home." Tyson threw her a dimpled smile and she smiled weakly back as she looked around the crowded backyard for Leon.

"Lala!" Mia ran over and threw her arms around the girl and Nicola dropped Tysons hand as she hugged Mia back tightly.

"So much for a small family dinner." Nicola glanced around at the still growing crowd.

"Well when Hector found out you were leaving he insisted on coming to see you, then he told Harry who then told Janelle and well she brought the kids and then I don't know if you know any of these other people." She gestured over her shoulder before turning her attention to Tyson. "Hey Tyson. I think the guys are playing the playstation inside if you wanted to join them. Letty's kicking their asses." She shrugged and Tyson glanced at Nicola and she rolled her eyes as he left.

"Letty's here?" Nicola asked before Mia passed her a cold Corona.

"Yeah she had to go and get something from the garage and Dom was there and well…fire and fuel and all that- they're back together." Mia sighed shaking her head making Nicola laughed.

"She nearly made a week." Nicola said in regards to Lettys resolve when it came to Dom.

"Nearly. Now lets go get some music going." Mia dragged her towards the kitchen and sat her down in a chair while she flicked through a CD stack before sticking one in the player and turning the volume up.

Sitting down next to Nicola she finally got to the point.

"You need to talk to Leon, La."

"Its him ignoring me, not the other way around." Nicola replied, sipping at her Corona.

"Well you haven't had to live with the grouch for the few weeks. He's so moody." Nicola nodded, she knew the wrath of Leons moods, though usually she helped get him out of it, not put him in it. "And it doesn't really help that you brought your pretty…whatever he is around either." Mia replied, a small smile on her face and Nicola groaned.

"You could have said on the invite – p.s don't bring Tyson if you didn't like him." She replied and Mias smile grew.

"I never said I didn't like him, but considering Leon doesn't I thought you might have figured that one out yourself." Mia was right and Nicola knew it. She was rubbing it in his face. He was her best friend besides Letty and she'd ditched him for three weeks before she left because he was in a mood last time she'd seen him. "Mates before dates" Mia added and Nicola rolled her eyes at the girl.

"Girl, where do you come up with these things?" She stood up and pointed to the doorway leading to the living room. "He in there?" Mia nodded and Nicola put the empty glass bottle down before walking towards the door.

She stood there quietly for a moment, watching the scene. Letty was sitting up on the floor, controller in hand as she raced Tyson in a game of Need For Speed. Leon lounged in the corner of the sofa as far from Tyson as possible and Jesse sat on the other corner, Harry's two sons sitting between them enthralled with the game.

After another minute of watching she realised someone was watching her and turned her head to meet Leons green eyes.

"Hey." She said to him but there was a collective reply from the rest of the people in the room. "Can we talk?" She maintained eye contact with Leon as Tyson glanced up and watched Leon stand up and follow Nicola into the kitchen.

When they were alone he leant against the far wall, crossing his arms across his chest, the sleeves of his short sleeved blue checked shirt being pushed up along his biceps. Nicola bit her lip as she tried to think of something to say while her eyes trailed over him before landing on his face where an amused smile was playing on his lips. He rose his eyebrows and Nicola snapped out of it.

"I don't want to leave with us fighting, Leon." She caved but Leons face was unmoving.

"We're not fighting." He replied neutrally and Nicola could feel frustration welling up inside her.

"Us not talking for three weeks is fighting." She replied trying to hide how upset she was but her tone betrayed her.

"You haven't been around." He replied and Nicola tried to calm herself down. Don't get angry- he's baiting you.

"And when I have been?" he didn't have a smart ass reply to that and Nicola stepped towards him. "Can we just forget what happened and be friends again?" She pleaded and Leon showed the slightest hint of a smile.

"What happened?" He asked raising an eyebrow and she nearly smacked that smug look off his face.

"You jumped out of a window after me, then you kissed me, then you acted like it never happened, then you were an asshole about Tyson, then I sat by your side all night when someone spiked your drink then you left…shall I go on?" She hissed in his face and watched something come over his features, his eyes darkening. She wasn't sure what it was but it all became clear as his lips came crashing down to hers making her heart start to pound. Taken off guard Nicola pushed him away, her hands holding fistfuls of his cotton shirt as she tried to get her breathing to calm down and stop the rapid beating of her heart. "Don't do it Leon, don't make me regret it." She choked, tears trickling down her cheeks as she silently started to cry. Leons fingers pulled her hands from his shirt and intertwined both hands with his as he leant over her.

"You can stop me Lala." He said softly as his lips came down and kissed the tears from her cheeks before reaching her lips and slowly and softly kissed her like she had never been kissed before. She moaned as her fingers slipped from his and wrapped around his neck pulling her flush against him as he lay kisses along her jaw and down her neck before crashing back on her lips hard.

When they pulled away both were breathing heavily. Nicola pulled her arms away from his neck and stepped back from him, her eyes falling on the door that led to the living room where Tyson, Jesse and Letty had been sitting before glancing at the window of the kitchen.

"Oh God." Holding her hand to her lips Nicola looked back at Leon shaking her head.

He reached out to her to say something but she moved too quickly and ran out to the barbeque. Leon went after her but pulled up short when he saw the look Mia was giving him through the back door as Nicola walked over and sat down at the table by herself. Leon knew the look Mia was giving him. She'd seen everything.

Turning around he went back to the living room, where no one so much as looked up as he fell on the sofa.

After dinner Mia had bought out a large chocolate cake, Nicolas favourite and as she went to get a piece she felt someones hand on her elbow. She turned around to see Tyson standing there.

"Hey." She said softly, guiltily, but he didn't seem to notice.

"I'm going to head off, I have work in the morning." As she picked up a piece of cake she followed Tyson out to the front yard to the Camero. "So maybe we can catch up when you come back next summer?" He asked as he leant against the drivers side door and Nicola stood in the middle of the empty street.

"Yeah, maybe." She gave a small smile.

"I had fun." Tyson said and Nicola raised her eyebrows.

"Me too. Thanks."

"It doesn't have to end." He said looking at her meaningfully.

"I think for both our sakes we should leave it here." She laughed and leaned forward to place a kiss on his cheek. "Drive safe."

He nodded and then he was in the car and driving down the street. Sighing Nicola trudged back up the driveway and realised someone was sitting on the porch. Walking over she could see Leon, cigarette in hand as he leant against the railing.

She leant against the opposite railing and looked down at the piece of chocolate cake in her hand.

"You want some cake? It's chocolate- your favourite." She said holding it up and Leon stubbed out his cigarette and walked over to lean on her side of the porch, reaching over and taking a chunk out of the cake. They ate in silence for a little while before Nicola finished and she had nothing left to distract her. Leon was so close she could smell the faint hint of smoke and coffee and aftershave.

"I thought you would have gone with him." Leon said finally.

"I think I'm confused enough, I didn't need to go home with Tyson and really fuck things up." She replied.

"Confused about what?" Leon said softly and she playfully nudged him with her shoulder.

"You know, whether getting on that plane is a good idea."

"You don't need to be confused Lala." He said and pushed against the railing so that he came to stand in front of her, his hands on the railing on either side of her. His lips were close to hers and Nicola shivered at the breath on her lips.

"Leon…I'm leaving tomorrow." She said softly, chewing on her lip.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" His low voice asked and she nodded mutely and he grabbed her hand, leading her back into the house and down the basement steps without anyone seeing them.

He flicked on a light as they walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind them. Nicola crawled onto the bed and looked over at him leaning against the door, looking serious.

"So…" Nicola said as she sat up against the wall, her legs stretched out in front of her. Leon ran his hands through his hair as he glanced down at her on the bed and sighed.

"Yeah…" Nicola had to smile. They were finally here and now none of them could say a thing. "Whats so funny?" Leon asked seeing her smile.

"He drove a damn Camero. It was so ugly." This made Leon laugh and crawl onto the bed, his need to be close to her overriding his nerves. He pushed her legs apart and pulled her legs so she was lying beneath him, their faces inches away from each other.

"Not as good as the Chevy huh?" He stared down at her lying beneath him, her hair fanning out behind her. Her cheeks were a slight pink and he could see the tank top she was wearing riding up her stomach, leaving most of it exposed.

"The Chevy is a heap of shit." Nicola replied as she rested on her elbows, bringing her closer to Leon.

"Hmm." Was all he said and his lips advanced on hers and she welcomed it, falling back on the bed and letting him press himself down on her. The need to touch him overwhelmed Nicola as she accidently ripped the buttons off his shirt but he didn't seem to care as she pulled it off his arms and let him slide the tank top off her.

He kissed along her collarbone and very quickly all the anger she'd had for him was gone. Just vanished as he placed open mouthed kisses on her skin and she wondered if she would ever regret anything when it came to Leon.

They sat there staring at each other an hour later. Leon sitting cross legged in front of her in nothing but his checked boxers. Nicola had her arms wrapped around her knees as she leant her chin on them and looked at him. She could see his gaze on her legs as his wifebeater rode up over her boyshorts and made her pull her legs closer to her chest.

Catching her eye he leaned down and kissed the long pink scar on her knee.

"Ask me to stay." She said softly and his head shot up, his green eyes searching hers before replying.

"No." Nicola's face fell and she felt something in her heart break and the pricking of tears in her eyes made her quickly swipe them away and berate herself for being so stupid. "La…" he saw the movement and she smiled slightly before climbing off the bed.

"I've got to be somewhere." She said as she searched for her clothes, but his hand was on her wrist, pulling her towards him.

"La, sit down." He pleaded and she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I just, I have to go." Nicola tried to pull away from him but he was kneeling on the edge of the bed and she ended up pulled into his bare chest.

"What did I do?" He asked softly as his thumbs wiped the tears from her cheeks and she smiled through the tears.

"Nothing, I just, I didn't think. I thought maybe…" She trailed off and realised if she kept talking she would just get more embarrassed.

"What did you think?" Leons voice was low and husky making her laugh again.

"Forget it. The point is I was wrong and I've got to go." She tried to push away from him but his hands were like a vice on her wrists but not hard enough to hurt.

"La! Tell me what is wrong so I can fix it." He pleaded and he slumped back on his knees.

"I thought that just maybe this was more than an easy lay." She admitted, anger lacing the words.

"Are you kidding?" Leon asked and his hands loosened on her wrists but she no longer wanted to run.

"No I'm not. Jesus Leon, I thought you knew. And now…" She cut herself off quickly using her newly freed hands to swipe at the tears again. "Look I've got to go." Nicola made for the door but his voice was soft and nearly as hurt making her stop and turn.

"Don't go La, please. Don't walk out like this." His green eyes pleaded with her and she tried to resist them but ended up slumping against his door, still in her boycut panties and his wifebeater.

"I don't just sleep with anyone Leon. Ever."

"I know La." He replied holding her gaze.

"Then you should have stopped. You should have known not to take this from me if you didn't feel the same." She replied and a new lot of tears started to fall making Leon jump off the bed and rush over to stand in front of her.

"Nicola, this, you, mean everything to me. You are the most important person in my life. Fuck, how can you not see that?" He leant down so he was face to face with her.

"Ask me to stay." She said quietly and Leon shook his head. Nicola tried to turn away but he stopped her.

"You have to go to New York because if you stay here I will be the one that stopped you from doing what you love. And I won't do that to you. So you go to New York and I'll still be here when you get back." He whispered the last part and gently kissed her cheeks, tasting the salt from her tears on his lips.

"That was very romantic Leon." She said softly and gave him a sad smile.

"Oh fuck me, don't start." He groaned but she soon had her lips pressed against his. They stumbled back into the bed laughing and kissing as they went.

A/N: Well? What did you think? Trust them to leave it to the last minute to get together! Please review! x