(Chapter Four Part Two)

Her mother burst into her room and she looked up, brow raised. "Why is your grandfather so worried about you and that boy next door. Is there somethin' you need to tell me, Rora?"

"No mama.. Granfather's just.. He's treating Jon like crap, and he barely knows him." Aurora started, wondering what set her mother off. Her mother sat down, looked at her a moment and then dropped her gaze to her hands before saying, "Don't make a mistake like me, cherie."

"Mama, don't.. Please, you are the only one who's not completely against him. He's not a good guy, but he's not a bad guy either."

"Rora.. Some of the women down at the hospital said he shot his ex girlfriend's dog." Fiona studied her daughter carefully, noting that Aurora didn't seem shocked, which frankly, worried her.

"Mama.. You were the one who told me to trust my gut. And now, when I am, when I know this is what I want, that I want to be around him, that I like him, you're gonna question it?"

"I'm your mama."

"And? Look, mama, like I said. He's NOT the guy everyone paints him to be. And I'm not going to sit here and listen to this. I'm not going to sit here and hear you give me reasons that I shouldn't do what I want to do." Aurora said calmly, as she sighed and added quickly, "I'm sorry.. It's just.."

"I know, darlin.. But you're so young, and I've heard so much about this kid.. I'm just not sure how I feel about you with him, to be perfectly honest."

"Mama."

"Rora, listen to me. Just don't get so caught up in this boy that you forget who you are, that you are your own person. That's all I'm sayin. I'm not gonna stop you from seeing him, because look how that went for me when my daddy did it to me. But I do want you to promise me that if he ever shows you anything other than what you deserve, then you walk away. And don't go getting serious with him. Finish school. Live life."

"I promise." Aurora said quietly, though she knew deep down, if push came to shove, she just wasn't giving him up, despite any and all warnings. No matter what.

Because everyone else in his life had done that to him, and she wasn't going to continue the pattern. She wanted him, faults, flaws, problems and all.

Her mother walked out of the room and she waited a few moments, then climbed out her window, and made it across to his, knocking gently.

He opened the window and rubbing his eyes helped her into his room.

"Ya okay?"

"I had to see you."

He smirked, pulled her body against his, his hand going to her cheek. "Oh really.. Did ya now?"

"Mhmm."

"So, guessing the old man went to your mama, she gave ya a lecture about me?" Jon asked, his stomach churning. Truthfully, he'd heard the entire thing, the walls in this damn building were so fucking thin that he couldn't help but hear. Had she changed her mind though?

He found himself hoping she hadn't. But fearing she had.

"Mhmm. But I wanted to tell you, it's not gonna change a damn thing. It's not gonna make me want you any less. I'm not going to leave you, I pro-"

His finger went to her lip and he shook his head no. "Don't promise shit, Rory, that's when everything fucks itself up, and it can't be unfucked."

Aurora sighed and rested her head against his firm chest, biting her lip. She knew this might not be easy, and probably not one of her smarter moves, but she didn't want to lose him. It was almost like a desperation. "Just hold me?"

Jon looked down at her and then shrugged, before sitting on the edge of his bed, pulling her into his lap, kissing her forehead. "Ya know.. Everyone probably thinks you're stupid, that ya got a death wish, Rory."

"Jon, I don't care about everyone else. I care about you.. About this, and about us." Aurora said as she pouted, when he made her look at him.

"I know, but I ain't a real good guy, Rory. And ya gonna see that. And then youre gonna be gone too. Just like everyone else."

"Jon." Aurora said quietly, her face taking on a sad and hurt look as she raked her hand through her hair, then leaned in and kissed him cautiously. "I'm not going anywhere. Even if something does happen, I will always find my way back to you. I promise." she said quietly, as she placed her hand on his chest, felt his heart beating beneath her fingers.

He put his hand over hers, and then managed a smile, as he said quietly, "Just don't expect me to be some nice guy, cause I'm not gonna. I'm an asshole, and nothin's gonna ever change that."

"I actually like you better as an asshole." Aurora said quietly, as she cuddled up against him, letting her nose fill with his cologne, eventually almost falling asleep.

Jon poked her awake and with a few more kisses, he got her to go back to her room, her apartment, because the last thing they needed was for an adult to catch them, and say something, and her to have to leave, or something equally fucked up.

He stood on his fire escape, hand in his pocket, other hand holding a cigarette, as he looked up at the moon. For the first time in a long time, he had no idea what would happen next, or just how much she meant what she said. Or if he was only setting himself for a heartbreak in the long run.