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:

Stay with Me Bright Eyes- Something With Numbers

Jerk it Out – The Caesars

I Want You To – Weezer

This chapter is dedicated to Ava who informed me that she is celebrating 4 years with her bestfriend slash boyfriend. Awww- have a great day! And as usual thank you to my awesome reviewers Gingermegs, Mrzlettyortiztoretto and tfatfreak207! Hope this does not disappoint!

June 1998 – There ain't nothin' that I need

Nicola rolled over in the double bed and looked at Katie sleeping beside her and groaned. The girl was tossing and turning for the third night in a row. Throwing back the covers of Lettys bed Nicola tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs towards the basement. Vince was sprawled on the sofa asleep as the tv played quietly in front of him.

She picked up a blanket from the floor and threw it over the sleeping form before making her way to Leons room.

Knocking on the door she heard a muffled reply and slowly snuck into the room. When she made it to the bed, she could make out Leon lying there, holding the covers up for her to get in.

Crawling in, Leon pulled her closer to him and closed his eyes. Nicola watched him for a minute before she said anything.

"I got expelled from school." His eyes snapped open and he looked straight at her.

"You're kidding."

"I punched a girl." She replied sheepishly and Leon sat up on his elbow and looked down at her and she could tell he was smiling in the dark.

"You actually hit someone?" he laughed at her and Nicola sighed.

"It wasn't the first time." She replied softly. Leon stopped laughing.

"What?"

"Remember that time I got suspended for swearing in High School? Well I had been swearing…just after I punched the girl in the face." She mumbled the last part but Leon caught every word.

"La…" He didn't know what to say. He had not expected this.

They fell into silence as Leon slumped back onto the mattress and both stared at the roof.

"I would have stayed if you'd asked me to." She muttered still staring at the ceiling and she heard Leons head shift.

"I know."

"Then why didn't you?" She rolled onto her side so she could see his every action.

"Because I wanted you to come back for you, not for me." He replied, still staring at the ceiling and Nicola reached over to take his hand and pull his arm around her and rested her head on his chest.

"Well I came back, what are you going to do now?" She asked as she listened to his heartbeat and his fingers weaved through hers.

He pushed her back onto her back and leant over her.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked, his lips grazing hers as she let out a low moan. She'd been waiting all year for this.

"Ask me to stay."

"Lala, please stay." He kissed her gently at first, just like their first kiss before deepening it and pushing her back into the pillows. "Please stay." He whispered against her lips and she nodded as his lips crashed down on hers and his hands cupped her face.

Nicola snuck back up to Lettys room where Katie was still sleeping in the early hours of the morning and got dressed before bounding down the stairs to meet Mia in the kitchen.

Mia looked over her in her white wifebeater and denim shorts and shook her head at the young girl.

"Lala, you've got a huge hickey on your neck." She said as she hit the button on the kettle and Nicola dashed back up the stairs to the bathroom where looking in the vanity mirror she could see the big red mark on the skin between her neck and her shoulder.

"What're you looking at?" She spun around at the sound of Lettys voice and slapped her hand to her neck, trying to hide the mark.

"Nothing." She replied and tried to get past the girl, but Letty got to her too quickly and pulled her hand away from her neck, letting out a loud laugh at the sight of the hickey.

"Is that a…? Did Katie do that to you?" Letty raised an eyebrow though Nicola knew exactly what she was thinking.

"If I say yes will you believe me?"

"Come on, I've got a shirt somewhere with a very big collar." She led the girl back to the room where Katie was just starting to wake up and Letty searched through the cupboards before pulling out a red checked long sleeved flannelette shirt.

"I didn't think Leon had it in him." She whispered as she walked past Nicola and out the door while Nicola stripped off and pulled the shirt on and searched for her foundation in her bag and made her way towards the bathroom, locking the door this time.

"Fuck you." Nicola said flippantly as she stood in front of Vince four hours later, her hands on her hips and glared down at him sitting in front of the Lancer that he was servicing.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" he snarked and he could see her visibly taking a deep breath before turning around and walking away. Passing Leon on the way who just stared at her as she walked past, dirty oil poured all down the front of the red shirt she was wearing.

Leon followed her and as he pushed the door of the bathroom open he saw the tanned curve of her back as she pulled the shirt over her head and was standing there in her bra as she made her way to the sink to scrub the shirt, before she realised Leon was standing there.

"He thinks he's so funny." She muttered as she scrubbed at the shirt. Leon watched as her toned arms scrubbed furiously at the shirt then his attention was drawn to the bright purple bra she was wearing, then he told himself to snap out of it.

"I think I've got a spare shirt somewhere." He said and she turned to face him full on.

"I would take you up on the offer, but as you can see, there was a reason I was wearing this shirt." Front on he could see the dark purple mark on her neck and bit his lip.

"Oh, La, I'm sorry." He laughed as he stepped toward her and pulled the sodden shirt out of her hands.

"No! I will not forgive you for this. I hate you!" She thumped him in the chest and he laughed as he rubbed the spot on his white wifebeater.

"It's just a hickey, Lala." He said, resting his forehead against hers and she thumped him again.

"Its not just a hickey, Leon, it's a hickey from you." She jabbed a finger in his chest and looked up at his face and immediately she realised it was a lost cause. He wasn't sorry, he was pretty damn proud of himself for branding her.

"I think it makes you look hot."

"I look like a tramp." He silenced her when he leant down and kissed her, before pushing her backwards until they both hit the wall, Nicolas bare back pressing against it as Leon hitched one of her legs over his hip and pushed himself up against her, kissing his way down her neck and placing a kiss on the mark on her neck before going back to her mouth and Nicola wove her fingers into his hair.

Then he pulled away and put her leg down. Nicola whimpered as he pulled away from her and looked up at him confused.

"You hate me that much?" He smirked and left the bathroom, leaving Nicola shirtless and breathless, leaning against the wall.

"Fuck." She hissed as the door slammed behind him and he was gone.

"So are you going to tell us where you got that massive lovebite from or do you want us to guess?" Letty asked as they got ready in Mias room for the race that night.

"Nicola! You have a lovebite?" Katie jumped off the bed she was occupying and ran over to her friend, pulling the collar of her flannelette shirt out of the way and staring at the large purple mark. "Where on earth did you get that?" She asked causing Letty and Mia to laugh.

Nicola tugged the collar back and pulled her hair into a loose plait over her shoulder, reaching for her makeup bag.

"None of your damn business." She replied before searching for her concealer. She would not get away with wearing the flannelette shirt at the races.

"I'll lend you my amazing concealer if you tell me who it was." Katie held up the little tube and cocked her head, her blonde hair falling to the side.

"Fine it was Leon." Nicola made a snatch for the concealer but Katie stepped back and looked at Letty and Mia who were smirking.

"Really?" Katie asked.

"Really really, now give me the damn concealer!" Katie threw her the tube and sat back down on the bed.

"So is this a permanent thing- you and Leon?" Letty dared to ask after a minutes silence and Nicola rubbing the cream into her neck with frustration.

"What? No!" She didn't glance away from the mirror. She didn't want to jinx anything and at the moment they were just seeing where it was going- there was no harm in lying.

"Why not?" Katie interrupted standing up again and smoothing her jeans and flowing gold top, too little flesh showing. Sensing Nicolas hesitation Mia broke in.

"Katie, are you really wearing that to the races, chica?" Katie looked down at her ensemble before looking up at Mia.

"Yes?"

"No, girl, that will not do."

Finally after squeezing Katie into one of Lettys leather skirts and a white tank top of Nicolas they made their way to the races.

"This is so exciting!" Nicola said from the back of Vinces car as they drove through the city. Katie sat beside her with Jesse sitting in the front.

"Are you drunk already Lala?" Jesse turned around to look at the two girls in the back seat.

"Never!" They both shouted in unison as they rose their beers.

"Virgins." Vince rolled his eyes and Nicola thumped him in the arm. "Hey no hitting the driver!"

"No calling the arm candy virgins, creature features." Nicola replied and Vince pulled up at a red light.

"Well you are. Race virgins that is. I don't wanna know about any other shit." Vince retorted and took off at the intersection.

"How skanky are these girls going to be?" Katie leaned forward and wrapped an arm around Vinces shoulder. Nicola didn't miss the gesture and shared a look with Jesse. She'd known Vince was keen on Katie, she just didn't think the blonde felt the same.

"Mega skanky." Jesse replied, taking a sip of his own beer.

"Excellent." Katie replied before sitting back as they pulled into the street, each side lined with candy coloured cars, each different in their own way.

Katie and Nicola wound down their windows so they could see the whole crowd. Guys circled each others cars, hoods up, discussing the mechanics of the vehicle. Close by girls stood in short skirts and high heels. The note about emphasising their best asset completely forgotten as the dresses got smaller and the heels higher.

When Vince pulled in beside Dom they quickly climbed out of the car and made their way to Dom standing by a bunch of girls, Letty watching from a nearby car with her arms crossed across her chest.

Nicola and Katie made their way over to Letty and leant against the car with her.

"So I vote we go find us some all American boys and show that boy what he's missing." Nicola shrugged in Doms direction before grabbing Letty and making her way towards the growing crowd.

When Katie didn't follow Nicola turned back to her.

"I might just wait here." Katie replied and glanced away. Nicola followed her gaze to where she was holding very intense eye contact with Vince.

"Oh-kay." Nicola said to herself and pulled Letty away.

"Hey! Letty!" They both stopped when a bald Hispanic guy stepped out in front of them, stroking his goatee as he looked over Nicola. Nicola raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the guy and he smiled.

"Who's ya friend, mami?" he looked at Letty.

"Arti, this is Lala, Lala this is Arti, Hectors brother." Letty gestured between the two and Nicola smiled briefly at Arti before Hector appeared.

"Lala?" He looked over at her, "What are you doin' here girl?" He opened his eyes and Nicola let him pull her into a tight hug.

"Dom finally caved and decided to let her come." Letty replied as Hector hugged her quickly.

"You were in New York right?" Nicola nodded but her attention was drawn away as she saw Leon within a bunch of racer chasers. She couldn't help but smile at how good he looked in his black wifebeater and light wash jeans, his toothpick moving up and down as he spoke. His eyes shifted and he met hers, giving her a small smile before she turned back to Hector, breaking the eye contact.

"Yeah, but she beat up some chick so she's back for good." Letty grabbed Nicolas arm both eyebrows raised as she asked her silently if she was okay.

"I didn't beat her up. It was one hit, okay! You guys make out like I went all Rocky or something on her." Nicola laughed and Hector smiled broadly before slapping a still present Arti on the back.

"Don't mess with this girl, bro. She's mad." Nicola smiled her sweetest smile at the two brothers before grabbing Letty.

"'Scuse us, boys, but we've got to make a boyfriend jealous, and you don't really cut it." Dragging Letty away Nicola beelined for a bunch of surfer looking guys standing around a blue Mazda.

"What did you get that in a cereal box?" Nicola asked sweetly when they approached them, making every head turn towards them.

"Maybe I did." A blonde haired, blue eyed boy said, crossing his arms across his chest as he smiled smugly at the two girls.

"Nah, the ones you get in Cap'n Crunch are better than that." Letty interjected causing a collective cheer.

"Sassy." The blonde said stepping towards the girls and leant into Letty who raised an eyebrow at him.

"Don't I know it." She replied. Nicola took the chance to glance back over her shoulder and saw Dom staring at them. Mission complete, Nicola thought as he was soon striding towards them.

"I never…had sex in the back of a moving car!" Nicola shouted as she held up the shot glass. The race hadn't even started when the cops had raided the street making everyone scatter before heading back to the Torrettos and getting the party started.

"That was one time!" Letty shouted at Nicola as she threw back the shot along with another girl they'd found in the crowded living room.

"I never kissed Vince!" Letty said as she topped up her glass and Mia and Katie threw back the shots.

"Whoah! Whoah!" Nicola jumped in the middle of the circle and kneeled on all fours in front of Mia. "You kissed Vince?" she asked drunkenly.

"It was…only like two times- and I was very drunk." Mia replied as Letty topped up the glass and gestured to her to go again. Nicola swivelled around to face Katie who was smiling sheepishly.

"And you- you weren't drunk were you?" Nicola pointed a finger at her and she shook her head ashamed making Nicola burst out laughing and fall out of the circle.

"I never fell out a two storey window." Mia quickly cut in and Nicola threw back a shot.

"You fell out a window?" Katie looked around at Nicola who nodded.

"Last year, it was craaaaaazy."

"She's smashed." Mia looked at Letty but realised it was a lost cause as Letty lay on her back giggling.

"How smashed?" Leons voice asked and Mia looked up to see him watching Nicola and Letty roll around on the carpet giggling. She glanced over to the two girls and realised Katie had gone, just seeing her and Vince sneak through to the basement steps.

"Any more and she'll start taking her clothes off." Mia laughed and Leon smiled. "Don't even think of it, Leon." Mia said sternly and Leon rolled his eyes.

"As if I would."

"Good."

"Alright I'm taking her to bed. Her own bed." He added when he saw the look she was giving him.

Walking over to Nicola she reached out to him. Within one move he had her standing in front of him. Before leading her upstairs without a word.

"Leon, why is the room spinning?" She asked and Leon looked over at her from where he was pulling the covers back on the bed.

"Because you're spinning." He reached out and stopped her from spinning around the room, her arms spread out wide.

"Whoah…" She said as he lifted her into the bed, pulling off her small dress over her head and reaching for the oversized shirt she had beside the bed. He tugged it over her head and let her lay down on the pillow.

"How long since you had a drink?" He asked and she giggled.

"I haven't been drunk since that night I stole Vince's tequila and you kissed me." She mumbled and closed her eyes still holding onto his hand.

"Night Lala." He pulled his hand from hers and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead and something caught his eye. On the spot between her neck and shoulder the purple mark was slowly showing beneath the makeup. He pulled the collar of her shirt up more so that it was covered and turned around to see Mia was standing by the door.

"She okay?"

"She'll be fine." He said softly as he left the room and went back downstairs as Dom was carrying Letty up the stairs.

"Girls man. You keeping an eye on Lala?" Leon nodded at Doms question and kept going.

Around three am he wandered back up to the room and found Nicola on top of the covers, her t-shirt crawling up over her back as she lay on her stomach leaving her legs bare and the black lacy boycut panties exposed to the world. His possessive side went over and tugged the shirt back down and pulled the blanket up before he fell on the bed beside her knowing Katie and Vince had snuck downstairs hours ago and had not come back for air since.

"Leon?" She mumbled as he pulled off his shoes and threw them on the floor.

"Yeah, baby." He looked over at her closed eyes.

"I'm giving dance lessons in the morning." Then she was asleep again and he rested his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.

When he woke up the sun was up and he was alone just like every other morning.

A/N: Sooo what did you think? Let me know! REVIEW x