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:
Genius – Jet
Deuces are Wild – Aerosmith. (I heard Janies Got a Gun on the radio this morning and All I could think of was that scene in Not Another Teen Movie…lol)
In a Little While – Uncle Cracker
Noxin- Hope you didn't sleep your way through school but I am so thankful for the dedication lol. Thanks so much for your review etc. And thanks for favouriting it. I always love having new reviews. SO thanks!
Ava- Haha glad you got so excited about it and I'm so happy its not crap! Thanks so much for your review as always!
Gingermegs- Haha! I'm so glad you liked the almost engagement! The horse is still alive…thankfully. Thanks so much for your awesome review and I will try to keep them as awesome as possible (fingers crossed)
Note- I should mention that considering these are all flashbacks leading up to the accident sometimes they leave out small details- they mainly just outline the significant events in Leon and Nicolas relationship so you can understand. Kthanxbye! x
June 1999 – Through the dark
"Another tattoo? You're fucked in the head." Nicola said standing in front of Leon, her hand on her hip.
"What? I told you about it ages ago. Where do you get of calling me fucked in the head? We're engaged and you won't even wear the fucking ring." Leon retorted as he sat leaning against the wall on the double bed.
"You're calling me fucked in the head now? Wow you're a real charmer you know that." Nicola picked up a shoe and threw it at him.
"I never forced you to say yes La!" Leon growled as he swatted the shoe away only to have another pitched at his head.
"No! I said yes because I wanted to, you asshole. It's a fucking ring."
"It's a fucking tattoo." The second shoe hit him in the shoulder as he ducked.
"That you have to live with for the rest of your life."
"Well I have to live with you for the rest of my life, you don't see me complaining." Nicola fumed as he acted like he didn't give a shit.
"Yeah well living with you ain't no picnic Palermo!" She growled and Leon smirked. He knew he had her. She was pissed but he could see the smile forming beneath her words.
"I'm getting the tattoo La." He replied and she shook her head.
"You're not."
"I am."
"Fuck you." Nicola hissed and Leon crawled across the bed, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards him. She didn't even resist his actions as he placed his hands on her hips and looked down at her.
"I love when you get all bossy." He teased and she thumped him in the chest.
"You get that fucking tattoo and you're sleeping on the couch." She replied and Leon smirked.
"This is my room, I paid for this bed."
"Fine, I'll sleep on the couch and you can make your own dinner." Nicola cocked her head to the side, her hair falling over her shoulder.
"Fine." Leons lips skimmed her neck as he pushed the hair back off her shoulder and placed a kiss on her collarbone. "It wasn't so long ago you wanted to tattoo your name on my ass." He muttered and nipped the skin.
"That was my name and it was on your ass so no-one but me would be seeing it." She replied, running her hands through his hair and tugging it causing him to growl. He looked up at her and she looked at him sincerely.
"I'm not joking Leon, you come home with another tattoo I will hurt you. You only just got away with the first one." Her fingers traced the raised edges of the tattoo that covered his bicep. "And it's a fucking Indian- I'm pretty sure you're mother was Cuban."
"La…"
"I mean it Leon, I need you to be pretty and I can't have that if you look like you've been rollin with the homies down in the Valley." Nicola continued as she drew patterns on his arm.
"Pretty?"
"Yes pretty." She murmured and placed a kiss on his shoulder.
"I don't really like being called pretty." Leon replied and Nicola laughed.
"Of course not. How about sexy? You look so sexy without any more tattoos." She replied.
"I'm still getting it." He said boldly and she pulled away from him.
"Fine I'm going to go and cut my hair." She spun around, the long ponytail fanning out behind her and Leon groaned.
"Don't La." She turned around and resumed her original position, hand on hip, glaring at him.
"Why not? I mean you're going to get a tattoo, why don't I cut all my hair off?" She asked shrugging and knew she had him when he slumped on the bed.
"Fine." He said grumpily.
"Yeah well you're not forgiven you jerk." She replied and stalked out of the bedroom. Leon fell back on the bed and covered his eyes with his arm. He should have known she wouldn't go for it. She hated everything about the tattoo he already had.
Nicola stalked up the stairs and saw Letty sitting at the kitchen table.
"Hey Lala did you see this picture of the tatt Leon's getting?" Letty looked up at the look on Nicolas face and grimaced.
"He's not getting another fucking tattoo." Nicola replied and made her way over to the coffee pot.
"Why not?" Letty asked, sipping at her own coffee.
"Because they're disgusting and tacky." Letty held up a piece of paper and Nicola snatched it from her, looking down at the drawing. It was an angel, head bowed, arms wrapped around her stomach as her large wings spread behind her. It was beautiful and her initials were printed at the bottom.. "Have you seen Jesse? He's still not talking to me since the whole we're about to be siblings discussion with his mum." Putting the piece of paper down she sighed
"Still think it's tacky?" Letty asked glancing at her friend and ignoring the question about Jesse.
"He's still not getting it."
"Why not, I like it." Letty looked at the angel and Nicola slumped down at the table across from her.
"Does it ever take you off guard when Dom does something so strangely romantic?" Nicola asked, spinning her coffee cup around in her hands.
"Ah, that would require Dom doing something in general." Letty replied.
"Oh."
"Look girl, I said to you originally that Leon was in crazy love with you. I think you have to accept that you're the man in this relationship I mean, Leons the affectionate one always trying for a PDA and you're always avoiding it." Hoping she hadn't offended her friend Letty chanced a glance at Nicola who was biting her lip. "Look you love each other like crazy, he just likes to show it more than you."
"So you're saying I should embrace this?" Nicola gestured to the picture and Letty shook her head.
"That's not who you are girl." Nicola stared at the picture.
"I've done romantic things." Nicola said softly and heard Letty scoff as she turned her attention to a newspaper making Nicola glare at her.
"When?" Letty asked.
"Um…I bought him a car…" She trailed off not really sure if that was classed as romantic.
"Doesn't count."
"I sleep with him don't I?" Nicola asked throwing her hands up and emphasising that Letty was not helping her at all. Letty turned to look at Nicola.
"That still doesn't count. He used to sleep with girls all the time." Letty retorted and Nicola flinched.
"Ouch."
"La, you have to prove you love him." Letty turned her attention back to the newspaper when Nicola fell silent for a moment.
"I said yes to marrying him." Nicola said sheepishly and Lettys head shot up.
"What?"
"He asked me to marry him and I said yes." Nicola shrugged like it was no big deal.
"When?" Letty shoved the newspaper away and gave Nicola her whole attention.
"When did he ask me or when did I say yes?" Nicola queried.
"Ah, both." Letty replied like it was obvious.
"He asked me on his birthday last year and I said yes a month ago."
"And you never told us!" Letty was about to blow up but Nicola could see her taking deep breaths. "I get it, sorry, this is you and Leon. You guys aren't exactly an open book. So was there a ring?" Letty asked and just as Nicola was about to answer there was stomping footsteps on the basement steps and Leon came out the door.
"I'm going out, that okay with you?" He snarked at Nicola.
"Whatever." Nicola shrugged, but instead of leaving Leon walked over and placed a kiss on her cheek before making his way out the door.
"You guys are really bad at this whole fighting thing." Letty observed and Nicola laughed. "So the ring?"
"Blue sapphire, white gold band." Nicola said as she sipped again at her coffee.
"Sapphire?"
"Diamonds are so overrated." And Letty laughed. "Besides Leons favourite colour is blue."
"Aww."
"Shut up Letty." Nicola growled, "And you and your big mouth need to keep this to yourself. Not even Dom can know." Nicola looked at Letty seriously who made a cross across her heart with her finger. "Good. I have to go and brainstorm something romantic now. Fuck I'm so screwed." Nicola made her way towards the basement and sat on the bed. Glancing over at the closet she saw a shoebox sitting on the top of it and got up and pulled it down, opening it with a huge smile on her face.
Leon and Jesse wandered through the back door just before dinner and Nicola realised Leon was wearing a long sleeved shirt. She groaned inwardly but didn't say anything as they all sat down for dinner.
As soon as she'd finished washing up Nicola went downstairs to find Leon, Vince, Jesse and Dom all sitting in front of the television. She didn't say anything, just walked into their bedroom and closed the door. Leon came in seconds later to find her lying on her back on the bed, her hair fanning out behind her.
"What are you doing Lala?" he asked looking down at her and she smiled.
"Thinking how good your ass looks in those jeans." She replied and he grinned, leaning over her and bracing his hands on either side of her head.
"You're not too bad yourself." He said softly, placing a peck on her lips. Nicola wrapped her legs around his waist and made quick work of unbuttoning his shirt. When she had all the buttons undone she pulled the shirt back to expose his bare chest and shoulders. She scrutinised his shoulder and realised he hadn't been to the tattoo parlour. Letting out a breath she relaxed. "Looking for something, baby?" He asked amused and Nicola shook her head sitting up, pushing him back as she did.
Rolling off her Leon sat beside her as she pulled out something from under the pillow and handed it to him.
"What's this?" he asked looking down at the red plastic bound book.
"Open it." She replied and he did laughing when he saw the first page. It was a picture of them as kids. Nicola was all blotchy faced as she stood glaring at Leon and Leon had a smug look on his face as he held up her favourite barbie doll out of her reach.
"Where did you even get this?" Leon asked staring at the photo.
"I had a heap of them. See this is how we started. You stealing my barbies." She leaned into his side and turned the page for him to a picture of him with chocolate cake smeared on his face and Nicola standing nearby, this time her with a triumphant smile. "This ones my favourite." She turned the page again and there was her, Letty, Jesse and Leon spraying each other with hoses in Nicolas backyard.
"What is this?" Leon stared at the pages as he turned over another and saw a black and white copy of the picture of them before her prom.
"It's us." She turned the page again where the hospital bands from her stay after falling out the window and an x-ray of her broken arm. "All the important moments." Nicola added as she turned the page again to the photo of the bright yellow cast she had had and the large love heart that said "Lala loves Leon 4EVA" written on it.
Next was the picture of the skyline he'd drawn on a piece of scrap paper that she'd taken. Next to it a Polaroid of the original wrecked Skyline. Nicola had also adorned the pages with coloured hearts and glitter. Turning it again there was pink notepaper stuck to the pages, one with the list he'd written when Bella Toretto had been in town, as well as the picture of her he'd drawn.
The last page was of them, Nicola sitting on Leons lap on a swing in the park. They were staring at each other and hadn't even seen someone snap the photo. Nicola had drawn a large red heart around their heads before he turned the page again. It was blank except a gold frame had been stuck there.
"And this is where our wedding photo will go." She pointed to the frame and Leon turned to look at her.
"This is a little bit cheesy for you Lala." He said softly.
"You don't like it?" She asked, her face falling and Leon shook his head.
"I love it, baby. It's corny as fuck, but I love it." He kissed her lips gently and Nicola pointed to the frame again.
"There will be a photo in there event-" She cut herself off when she saw something white peeking out of the bottom of his shirt cuff on his wrist. "What's that?" she pointed to it and Leon glanced down at his wrist.
"Nothing."
"Bullshit." Nicola replied, and he didn't even try to stop her as she pulled his sleeve up and ripped the white bandage off his wrist. Along the inside of his wrist, parallel with his hand was the word "Lala" in black cursive.
"Sorry it's not on my ass." Leon shrugged as she stared at the letters, the skin still red around it. "You hate it?" Leon asked and she shook her head, a tear falling on the exposed wrist. He pulled his hand away and lifted her chin to look him in the eye. "What's wrong?" He asked softly and she smiled through the tears.
"I love you so much, Leon Palermo." She sobbed and Leon laughed.
"Is that a bad thing?" She shook her head again and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her head in his chest. Leon laughed and hugged wrapped his arms around her as well. "Well I love you too, Nicola Andrews soon to be Palermo." he felt her squeeze tighten and Nicola laughed as well, her heart swelling with pride. "Even if you are a temperamental bitch sometimes." He heard her mumble something before pulled away. "Where are you going?" Leon asked as she leaned out of his reach. She threw him a smile before opening a bedside drawer and pulling out the leather box and climbing off the bed.
Leon watched her as she got down on one knee and opened the leather box.
"Leon Daniel Palermo will you marry me?" She asked and Leon snatched the box from her hand without a word and pulled her to stand up before sitting down on the bed and holding onto her left hand.
"Only if you marry me first?" she giggled as Leon slipped the ring onto her finger and she cupped his face to kiss him.
"Of course." She whispered between kisses and pushed him back onto the bed.
Waking up the next morning the first thing she saw was her left hand resting on the pillow in front of her, the blue ring glinting at her.
"Didn't think you were ever going to wake up?" Leons voice came from the corner of the room as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a green work shirt which made his eyes look even greener.
"Why didn't you wake me?" she asked sitting up.
"Because the message Dom left I figured you would appreciate the sleep in." He said leaning over and kissing her on the lips before thrusting a cup of coffee in her hand while she used the other to run her fingers through her hair.
"What did he say this fine Monday?" She asked, her husky voice cracking with grogginess before she took a long sip of coffee.
"The words Universal joints and Mitsubishi were mentioned." Nicola placed the cup down on the bedside table before falling back heavily on the pillows and pulling the covers over her head groaning.
"Wake me up when the day is over." She grumbled and Leon ripped the blankets off her.
"Come on, baby. I'll buy you a chocolate bar from the vending machine." He bribed and Nicola sat up.
"Make it two and you've got a deal." Leon pulled her up and she made her way to the bathroom to get ready for the long day ahead.
A/N: Well thoughts? REVIEW x