A/N: So sorry for the late update again guys. Here is the long awaited chapter even.

Disclaimer: I still don't own it!

It was as though time had slowed to an immeasurable speed. He noticed the headlights inching closer and closer to him with each passing millisecond. He could see tiny spots forming at the corners of his eyes. Regardless of the fact that there was a large, moving vehicle headed directly for him he couldn't help but smile as he felt the lights fill his line of vision completely. God must really love me he thought. The pain he felt as he remembered what he had just witnessed allowed anger to bubble up inside of him. The anger that boiled was mixed in with a foreign pain that went so deep. Never had T-Bone cared so deeply for another person. Seeing another man, the man who broke her heart, in such close proximity to Ruthie, his Ruthie had slowly drained all possible hints of hope that she loved him as much as he loved her. What more was there to live for really? He had no family that would miss him were he to mysteriously disappear. Sure they would mourn. Although he had a strong feeling it would be out of obligation than anything else. As he looked at it now the grim reality was that he no longer had anything to live for. The one bright star in his life he had just found in the arms of another man.

So what if he had let her birthday slip his mind? There would be other birthdays to remember. When you loved someone you forgive them for there mistakes no matter the size. Ruthie hadn't even given herself a chance to forgive him. Only ten minutes later she had gone behind his back to the snake that had left her so broken. Or was it that she never really truly loved him? He had said it to her countless times before. Why hadn't she reciprocated? Ruthie had told him numerous times how much she cared for him yet those three words he longed to hear, the words he had yet to hear from anyone had never passed her lips.

Let it happen. He had now come to the realization that he couldn't manipulate fate. Life gave you a set of cards and when that hand ran out there was nothing you could do but wait for the end result. You had to come to grips with the fact that you had lost. T-Bone had never been a good loser. He had always gone out to get what he wanted and if he didn't get it he would find a way to take what he felt he deserved. He would come out the winner no matter how hard he had to work for it. This was one thing he couldn't change no matter how much he wanted to.

The truth was that he didn't deserve her. She was too good for him. Given the opportunity he would find a way to change. To become the man she would one day grow to love. The current situation told him otherwise. He wouldn't get another chance to prove himself worthy of the young Camden's love and he reluctantly accepted that.

He suddenly felt his eyes blur bringing in a clear picture across his vision. So this is what they mean when they tell you that life flashes before your eyes he thought.

He soon found himself in a small rundown home. No sooner had he set sight on it did the sharp smell of alcohol assault his senses. He felt his face contort in disgust as the smell surrounded him. His ears pricked as he took in the shouting that was accompanied by the shattering of glass.

"…just get the hell out of my house you whore!" he heard a deeper tone shout as if he were merely within a couple of feet of the man. the sharpness in the man's tone sent silent shivers down his spine as he resisted the urge to cover his years in an attempt to block out the offending sound.

"DON'T SAY MEAN WORDS TO MOMMY!" he heard a little boy whimper as he tried to defend his mother. T-Bone suddenly felt like he was on the outside simply watching what was going on around him. In a way he was. For some strange reason he didn't feel the urge to go and join the boy in defending the woman. All he could really do was watch in horror as offending words flew back and forth with the shattering of more glass and slamming of doors.

"And what are you going to do about it, huh?" He noticed the little boy shrink back in horror as he hid behind his mother's leg shaking in fear. "ANSWER ME BOY!"

"John don't you dare put Theo in the middle of all this! He's done nothing wrong!" the woman shouted.

"Oh poor widdle Theo always going to Mommy for protection! Well grow up you big baby! It's a cruel world out there and running to Mama for every little itty bitty problem ain't gonna do shit for you!" he shouted yanking little Theo away from the safe guard of his mother. T-Bone suddenly came to the realization that the freighted little boy he saw shaking like a leaf was him. The strange urge to want to take him in his arms and run for all he was worth shot through him.

"DON'T SPEAK TO YOUR SON THAT WAY!" his mother yelled. He had to give her some credit. If he were in her very position he would have already clubbed him.

"SHUT THE HELL UP JENNY. HE'S MY SON AND I WILL I WILL SPEAK TO HIM HOWEVER THE HELL I WANT TO!" By this time the man who was supposedly his father had ripped little Theo away from his mother completely which allowed a string of uncontrollable sobs to shake his defenseless frame. His eyes grew wide as saucers as he noticed John yank a towel of the kitchen counter and stuff it in his mouth. His cries had now become mere chocking whimpers.

"OH GO TO HELL JONATHON!" Jenny shouted silent tears coursing down her cheeks as she took in the sight of her baby fighting for breath.

"Oh that's where your wrong little lady. It ain't me who's goin' to hell. That would be you! You've been so busy with your new job and so happy with your new freedom that you barely have time for me anymore! You're so busy taking care of these little brats that you don't even know I'm here! How long has it been since we've had sex?" T-Bone saw his mother's face contort in digust.

"I don't give a living crap how long it's been since you've touched me John!"

"HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU'VE PLEASURED ME? YOU HAVEN'T COOKED FOR ME IN WHO KNOWS HOW LONG! IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THEM ISNT IT. IT'S AS IF I DON'T EVEN MATTER TO YOU ANYMORE!"

"You're a grown man Jonathon! I don't have to be the one waiting on you hand and foot!"

"Well if it ain't sex and it ain't for feedin' me what in the hell else are you good for?" T-Bone suddenly felt the urge to leave. He couldn't handle this anymore. He couldn't relive the screwed up life he once led. He wished to poof out of here like some faire type thing and just leave before things got worse. Not that they weren't already hellish. If there was one thing he remembered about his childhood it was the constant fighting that went on.

"Well gee I don't know. Could it be to be loved by my husband, to take care of the kids?" Love the one feeling he never got a taste for.

He felt his eyes close just briefly and when he opened them he was no longer in his destroyed home. Instead he could hear the blaring of horns and radios as he saw himself huddled in a street corner.

"T I'm hungry," he heard a small voice announce to the huddled figure.

"Hold on Janey let's just wait for Mom to get back and then I'll go see if I can hustle up some food okay?"

"She's been gone for hours and we haven't eaten in two days! Aren't you hungry?"

"More than you know. But I'm not gonna go leavin' you here by yourself."

"Then let me go with you!"

"And risk you getting hurt. I don't think so!"

"But I'm hungry!" she whined.

"You're not the only one, alright!" he shouted. The normal T-Bone felt guilt in the very pit of his stomach. If he didn't know any better he could have sworn that was his father speaking. He knew from past experience that when John was angry you ran. Looking into the large eyes of his little sister he saw that T-Bone had noticed his mistake. He saw him gather Janey in a hug as he apologized profusely for being angry with her.

"I'm sorry Janey. I didn't mean it. I didn't want to yell at you," he heard him whisper.

"It's okay," she sniffled whipping a stray tear that had trailed. "I know you're not like Daddy." As time passed he had that familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach again. He knew his mother wasn't going to be coming back any time soon and any money she had gathered would only be used to her benefit. Alcohol did that to people. She had long since stopped caring. Yet he couldn't stop himself from hoping that one day she would care. Eventually she would become Mom again. Not this shadow of a woman who pleasured her way into getting the money she soon after wasted. "T she's not coming back is she?" he heard his sister whisper.

"No Janey I don't think so," he whispered sadly catching the true meaning behind her question. The mother he once knew, the one who loved him, protected him and his sister with everything she had would never be back. Not as long as she drowned herself in cans of beer at a time. T-Bone felt himself closing his eyes again.

When he opened them again he found himself in the Camden's home with Ruthie's small form in his arms as they watched their regular Friday night movie. No sooner had he laid his eyes on his girlfriend did his eyes close anew. No not yet! It's too soon!

He now found himself at his school locker taking out his chemistry book for his normal fifth period class. After closing it he noticed a tall slender woman with white blond hair. She soon turned to face him a bright smile gracing her face. Almost as bright as Ruthie's he thought. As much as he wanted to look away he found himself staring.

"Hi I'm Tiffany," she said sweetly. He knew he should respond yet his mind laid a blank slate. "What's your name sexy?" she asked her tone turning seductive.

"T-B-bone," he found himself stuttering. He saw her throw her head back as she laughed heartily.

"As in the steak?" she asked giggling now. Not finding a way to form proper words all he could do was nod a yes.

"Cool!" was all she said before she turned to walk away.

"Wait!" he shouted bringing himself out his long standing shock. She turned on her heel and grinned cheekily.

"What can I do ya for?" Oh you can do me anytime! T-Bone thought.

"Do you need help getting to your next class? I could show you around if you want. One of the good things about having your girlfriend home sick was that what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. He wasn't going to be the one to spill the beans. In truth he was only helping the girl out. What harm was there in being a good Samaritan?

"Actually I'm not new here really so I know my way," she said. T-Bone could feel his face dropping in disappointment.

"What are you frowning for you jerk! You've already got a girlfriend!" T-Bone felt himself yelling at his shadow. The statement went unheard however, as if he weren't even there. Shadow T-Bone just continued walking along side the girl like a lost puppy.

"You could help me out by carrying these though," she said presenting him with a stack of textbooks. Their really heavy and I just got my nails done last week." Shadow nodded accepting the mountain of books with a goofy grin on his face. As much as T-Bone wanted to go yell at his idiotic self he knew the act would go unnoticed. All he could do was watch as he cheated on his loving girlfriend. He kicked himself in anger as he realized just now what he had done. He shut his eyes tightly wishing to leave before he felt even worse. This time he actually got what he wanted.

Yet when he opened again he found himself in a pink canapé bed. Even though it wasn't him under those sheets he felt the weight of the second body on top of him as if he were. He then took in the sound of moans and groans as he watched in horror. Tiffany lay on top of him covered by fluffy pink sheets. He knew well enough what they covered. This is where he had been only hours before.

He had to find a way to deal with the stress that was his academic life. Ruthie couldn't give him what he wanted so he had gone to someone who would. In the process any notion of his girlfriend was completely unknown to him.

"Tiffany….oh Tif that feels so good! "Oh Tiffany…"

"T-Bone come on you gotta wake up for me T. I miss you…" someone said through sniffles. The voice was familiar yet unfamiliar all the same. He knew that familiar tone and for some reason he felt his hear drop. Not once had she said she needed him, that she loved him.

"Tiffany," he mumbled as the image before him began to come in more clearly.

"Who's Tiffany?" he hard his shining star whisper.

A/N: So how'd we do? Good? Bad? Let me know! And again sorry for the extremely long wait!