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.
Mrzlettyortiztoretto- Haha thanks! I know that because I read it so much I miss things! I'm glad you loved this chapter so much! Grr. Hope you're feeling better and as always thanks for the amazing review!
Ava- Yes I update usually on my lunchbreak or after work so good that we're in sync lol. You will find out what happens all in good time! And I hope you enjoy this one! Thanks for the lovely review!
Gingermegs- I know- they're so cute lol. Thanks for your usual awesome review!
Crazier – Taylor Swift
You and I – Santana Ft. Chad Kroeger
This = Love – The Script
November 1998 – Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
Leon rolled over and reached for Nicola but his hand hit empty mattress. Opening his eyes he looked around but couldn't see her anywhere in his room.
"Great." He muttered. What an awesome way to start his twenty-first birthday. Throwing back the covers he climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans and a flannelette shirt before making his way upstairs.
When he got to the kitchen everyone else was already there, except Nicola. They each sat around the table eating their breakfast and didn't so much as look up when he entered. Leon poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down in his seat, cupping the mug with his hands. No-one said anything so he opted to rest his head on his folded arms and close his eyes.
"Has anyone seen La?" He asked when his curiosity got the better of him.
"She left early." Mia replied before placing a plate of French toast and bacon down in front of him.
"What's this?" He asked staring at the plate.
"It's your birthday isn't it?" He looked up at her smiling face and couldn't resist the smile tugging at his lips.
"Thanks Mia."
"Happy Birthday sweetie." She kissed his forehead and ran a hand over his head as he looked around the table at all his friends.
"You didn't think we'd forget did you man?" Letty asked.
"Wish I could say the same for my girlfriend." Leon muttered but they all heard and exchanged a look.
"La didn't forget, dawg. She's been jumping around the house since five AM." Vince replied as he shared a look with Jesse.
"Hmm." Was all Leon said as he started to eat his breakfast.
By the time he'd had his third coffee at work, Nicola still hadn't turned up and Leon was getting anxious. He didn't know what she was up to and she'd taken his Chevy, both which spelt trouble.
There was the sound of a truck coming up the driveway at the side of the garage.
"Beep, beep, beep." The recognisable sound of Nicola's voice as she reversed the truck, with sound effects like she had as a kid, made Leon look over at the doors as he saw the cab of the truck go past to the carpark at the back of the shed.
"Shes here!" Jesse came running into the shed and looked around, his eyes landing on Leon and gesturing at him to hurry up.
Wiping the grease off his hands Leon followed the rest of the team out to the carpark where he saw his old Chevy parked next to where the truck was usually parked.
Nicola put the air brakes on and there was a loud whoosh before she switched the ignition off and swung out the door and onto the bed of the truck where a black tarp covered what Leon guessed was a car tied to the back of the truck.
She smiled down at him and gave a small wave as Jesse and Vince started to untie the car. When the straps were undone, Nicola hauled the tarp off and Leon couldn't believe his eyes.
"Happy Birthday baby!"
It wasn't in good condition and there were no tyres on the rims and the windows were smashed but the red skyline was the greatest thing anyone could have gotten him.
Nicola was standing at the edge of the truck when he walked over and stood beneath her.
"You got me a skyline?" He asked looking up at the brunette.
"Well the guys helped…a little." She shrugged and Leon reached up to her. Nicola jumped into his arms and he lowered her to the ground unable to keep the smile off his face.
"You are fucking amazing." He hugged her tightly, placing a full kiss on her lips as she laughed.
"Happy Birthday." She smiled before he pulled her into another bone crushing hug.
"Well lets get it off the truck, man." Letty slapped Leon on the back and gave Nicola a high five as she walked past.
Nicola swung back up into the cab and after flipping a few switches the truck began to move and the Skyline was soon sitting in the garage.
At lunchtime everyone else had gone to the store but Leon was looking under the hood of his new present.
"You'll have to paint it again." Nicola said behind him and he looked around at her.
"Yellow?" He laughed when she nodded, deep in thought.
"Do you think you'll get it up and running?" She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked around his arm at the engine in front of them.
"Eventually. But it's perfect- where did you even find it?"
"A guy in North Dakota had it sitting in his wrecking yard. Gave it to me for a song when he thought I was using it for scrap metal." Leon chuckled and dropped the hood, turning around to face her.
"Have I mentioned you're the most awesome girlfriend ever?" He cocked an eyebrow and she chanced a glance at the car and winced slightly.
"Get it running and you can remind me." He placed a lingering kiss on her lips and she felt him pull her against him.
"And as much as I love this present, you are not forgiven for ditching me in bed this morning." He growled into the skin on her neck and Nicola laughed.
"I'm sorry, but there's another part to your present and I think you might forgive me." He pulled back and looked at her, both eyebrows risen.
"What is it?"
"I'm not telling."
When Leon walked into the kitchen that night after a shower everyone was already sitting around the large table, showered and well dressed. They all looked up at him expectantly and he felt someone push their way through the door and looked down to see Nicola standing beside him in a black halter neck dress that fell just above her knees. Her long dark hair was pulled into a messy plait that hung over her shoulder.
She looked up at him and back to the table which actually had a table cloth on it.
"Lala didn't think you would want a huge party so we cooked ribs, lasagne and garlic bread." Mia held up a tray and placed it in the middle of the table before taking a seat along with Leon and Nicola.
Before anyone had a chance to reach for the food Dom cleared his throat from the head of the table.
"Grace?" he looked from Nicola to Mia and Nicola sighed loudly to emphasise her distaste at being chosen.
"Fine…Dear Lord, thank you for giving us Leon Daniel Palermo and allowing him to survive his first twenty-one years, thank you for the food we are about to eat and thank-you for giving me awesome chocolate cake baking skills so that I could provide dessert tonight. Amen." She looked over at Dom and raised an eyebrow before smiling in triumph when he nodded his approval.
"You made the cake?" Jesse asked and Nicola nodded, "Awesome!"
After Nicola had cleared the plates she brought the huge cake out and placed it in front of Leon. Two large candles in the shape of a two and a one stood in the middle of the cake. Everyone started singing happy birthday before Leon blew out the candles and Nicola handed him a knife.
"You have to kiss the closest girl if you hit the bottom." Vince yelled and stepped back from the table. Slicing into the cake Leon let it hit the bottom before wrapping an arm around Letty and smacking a kiss on her head.
"Ew." She laughed as she wiped off invisible saliva.
"I meant a proper kiss." Vince said with disappointment and Nicola tried to make a dash for it but Leon caught her arm and pulled her into him.
"No, don't Leon." She held her hands up to him but soon put them down as his lips hit hers and he gave her a long hot kiss to the distaste of their friends who all started shouting at them.
When they pulled away Nicola was breathless and quickly pulled out of Leons grasp.
Soon each of them had a piece of cake in their hands and made their way to the tv where Vince put on a DVD.
Mia paused in the doorway and looked back at Leon and Nicola still sitting at the table.
"Are you guys coming?" She asked but knew it was a lost cause when she saw the way they were looking at each other.
"We're going to eat this outside thanks Mia." Nicola said before standing up and reaching out to Leon who took her hand and followed her outside.
Taking a seat on a wooden chair around the barbeque table Leon pulled Nicola onto his lap and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Thank you." He placed a kiss on her shoulder and Nicola nodded as she held up a piece of cake out to him. When he opened his mouth she shoved the whole piece into it making him gag. "I take it back, you're a terrible girlfriend." He laughed before pulling her head down to his and smearing chocolate frosting all over her cheek.
"I just wanted you to be happy." She said, as she placed a kiss on the side if his mouth, finally serious.
"I am so happy, Lala." He said softly as she kissed the chocolate icing off his lips. "I have something for you."
"But…it's your birthday."
"I'm thinking of it as an investment." He said as he plucked the small leather box from his shirt pocket and holding it out to her.
"What is it?" Nicola asked, hesitant to touch it.
"Open it and see." Leon said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. She stole a glance at him before opening the box.
Inside was a small white gold band with a square cut sapphire sitting in the middle of it.
"Is this what I think it is?" She whispered as she stared at the ring in shock.
"Sort of. I know you're only nineteen- so I'm giving it to you and when – if you want to be engaged to me you wear it. If that makes sense. Because I know right now you're saying no." She glanced up at him still shocked. Shocked that he wanted to marry her and shocked that he knew exactly what she was thinking. "La I want to be with you forever."
She shifted so that she was straddling him, the small box between them.
"Are you sure?" She asked softly and Leon smiled.
"Yes, La, I'm sure." He kissed her lips and smiled.
"I can't make any promises that you won't change your mind, Leon. You know me better than anyone." Her tone was serious as she looked him in the eye.
"I wouldn't have you any other way, La."
"Hey lovebirds! We're waiting on you." Vince shouted from the back door making them look up and sigh. Nicola fell into Leons chest and sighed again before pulling herself off of him and they walked inside hand in hand.
There was a space at the end of the sofa where Lettys feet were resting and she lifted them as Nicola sat down and Leon leant against the sofa in front of her, letting her run her fingers along his scalp through the entire movie making him lean back into her.
When the credits rolled on Nicola leant down whispering in his ear.
"Give me ten minutes." Before placing a kiss on his cheek and saying goodnight to everyone before disappearing.
Leon made it to five minutes before standing up and saying goodnight to everyone and running down the stairs to the basement.
His jaw dropped when he saw her standing there in black lace lingerie, but his eyes were drawn to the shiny object on her left hand as she stood with her hands on her hips.
Seeing where his gaze was she lifted her hand and nodded to the ring.
"Only because its your birthday." Kicking the door shut he pulled off his shirt and made his way towards Nicola picking her up and making her squeal. "Leon!"
He threw her on the bed and followed soon afterwards.
A/N: Let me know what you think! REVIEW x