Author: Moon Roses or Moony
Rating: R for language
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Feedback: Not necessary but greatly appreciated.
Recap: "If we don't I think she'll come down here and smash our faces together like Mia used to with her Barbie and Ken dolls," she said before capturing his lips between her own again, for the third time that day.

Chapter Fifteen

Two weeks later...

"Yo Shorty! Letty's on the phone!" Miguel yelled from the back room where he was working on the latest paperwork.

Sighing, Shorty slid from under a 98 Mitsubishi 3000GT and hauled herself to her feet. Snatching a rag from the garage floor she wiped her hands off before grabbing the phone from Miguel. "What's up, Lett?" she asked while dropping onto Miguel's lap and throwing her legs up onto the desk.

Grinning like a banshee, she threw a wink over her shoulder and reclined back as far as she could. The last two weeks had been crazy at work and she fully planned on taking advantage of the few seconds of freedom she now had. Being at work by seven each morning and not leaving until well after ten o'clock at night was taking its toll on the whole team. None of the team had even started on their own cars yet and Race Wars was now only two weeks away. The closer it got to the actual event the more people would bring their cars to the garage. Shorty had no idea why so many people would leave something that important until the last minute but she chalked it all up to stupidity.

"I don't know girl. We're crazy busy now," Shorty murmured into the phone and felt Miguel nudge his head closer to the phone so he could listen too.

"Come on, boo. Take a break, and come eat already. I ain't seen you since last week's races. And that was only for a minute," Letty answered over the noise coming from her end.

Letty was right after all. Shorty had been so busy with work at the garage that she'd only seen Vince and Letty once in the past two weeks. Not to mention that she had only seen Leon twice, once at the races and once when she had ran into him at Subway a few nights back. She desperately wished she could see them but she was physically exhausted. "I can't girl. I gotta finish up on the 3000GT, before starting on the Diablo and the Escalade today."

"Come on, boo. You gotta come, just for awhile," Letty pleaded.

"Nah. I'm gonna jet and get back to work girl. I'm already lagging, Hector's probably gonna fire me," sighed Shorty and absently rubbed the back of her neck. "I'll see you at the races on Saturday though. Later girl."

"Wait!" Letty called before Shorty could hang up the receiver.

Bringing the phone back to her ear Shorty knew something was up. Letty was acting differently and she didn't want to be in the middle of whatever was happening between her and Dom. "What's up girl? Why you tippin' off me?" she asked softly.

"It's nothin' like that, boo, it's just that Leon's on his way over. He thinks you're trying to avoid him. He skipped out about ten minutes ago to call you out on it," Letty laughed nervously.

"Oh Christ." If Leon was on his way over now that meant he was pissed. Really pissed. And she still hadn't told Hector about him, even though she swore she would. Not good. The blood drained from Shorty's face and she knew the proverbial shit was about to hit the fan. Grumbling a quick goodbye she dropped the phone back onto the cradle and paced around the room trying to think of any way out of this.

What could she possibly do? Think damn it. Think! Behind her she could hear Miguel laughing to himself and she flipped him off before straining her ears. She could hear a high performance engine on their street and slapped her hands over her eyes. Things had just got from bad to worse. "Fuck," she muttered through her hands and groaned when she heard a car skid to a stop outside the garage.

"Leon, brotha! What's up homes? Dom being an ass again?" Hector called as Leon stepped from his car and slammed the door shut behind him.

Leon shook his head but didn't bother to answer Hector's question. His eyes searched over the garage quickly, noting which members of the crew were in his line of sight. Shorty shrunk back from the door and leaned against the wall. She hadn't been avoiding him before but she sure as hell wanted to now. Across from her Miguel was still as smug as ever as he watched with amusement, while she mentally measured the distance from where she was standing to the window across the office. No more than 10 paces, but then she'd have to open the window, climb out, and run. All of these combined would give Leon plenty of time to follow her. Damn it. She was stuck.

"Hector man, where's your sister, aye?" Leon asked, loud enough for her to hear wherever she was hiding.

Pushing away from the wall, she sighed heavily before walking from the office and into the main garage. "Right here, Leon," she mumbled.

The minute Leon saw her, his eyes clouded and he started towards her. Thinking quickly Shorty decided her best course of action would be to get Leon out of the garage to talk to him, away from her brothers prying ears. This was what she wanted but obviously not what Leon wanted as he opened his mouth to confront her right then and there. "Why are you avoiding me?" he grunted as he stopped in front of her.

"I'm not avoiding you, Leon," Shorty mumbled, pleading with her eyes to let them take this outside.

"You are avoiding me and you know it. What's up with that Lil' Coyote?"

"I ain't avoiding your stupid ass. But I'm sure as hell gonna now! I told you it was crazy busy here. Just look around, player," Shorty motioned vaguely around the garage.

"Have you told him yet?"

Shorty narrowed her eyes dangerously at Leon before letting her gaze travel to her brother. He was standing to the side listening with an amused look upon his face, though it lost some of its mirth when she swung her eyes back to Leon's. "No."

"I will," Leon answered quietly.

"Fuck Leon. Just leave it be. I told you I would tell him," Shorty raised her voice. She had never liked being backed into a corner, and whether he realized it or not, that's exactly what Leon was doing.

"Tell me what?" asked a deadly steady voice. When neither Shorty nor Leon answered him Hector invaded their personal space. Pushing Leon away from Shorty, Hector stepped in front of her and looked down into her eyes. "Tell me what, Michael? he asked again.

"Nothing Hector. It's nothing," she answered him and risked a quick glance over his shoulder to look at Leon.

He didn't look happy when she so plainly denied that anything was going on, but Leon knew how her brother always liked to approve of the men she dated. Why it mattered so much to her she would never understand. But unfortunately it did matter to her. Was she willing to drop Leon if her brother didn't approve though? Because she had a small feeling that Hector wasn't going to approve all the much of her dating Leon. He was a known player after all, fucking racer chasers and leaving them high and dry. Hector would never want that to happen to his baby sister.

"Tell him Shorty," Leon urged her from behind Hector.

"I, I... nothing to tell," she answered softly. Her mind screamed obscenities at her, why wasn't she stepping up? She was a strong woman that didn't let men decide her life for her. So what was her problem? She liked him right? So what if Hector didn't approve. "Actually, Leon and I are..." she snickered at herself as she struggled for the words to say.

"We're dating. For two weeks now," Leon finished for her and his green orbs flashed at her happily.

Shorty smiled back at him and then transferred her sights to Hector. His face had lost all of its amusement now. He seemed unable to form words, unable to form a single thought. She pictured his eyes turning a brilliant ruby red and frothy foam dripping from his mouth like a rabid wolf. He stared at her in silence, "Get out." He wasn't facing Leon but it was clear who he was talking to.

"Hector man, I'll..."

"Get out Leon. I don't want you anywhere near my sister," Hector said cutting Leon off. He spun around to face him and pointed to the door.

"Hector, what the fuck?" Shorty asked as Hector shoved Leon towards the door.

"Get the fuck out of here, Leon," he yelled and pushed Shorty back as she tried to get around him. "Get out now."

"Jesus Hector," Shorty started until Hector silenced her with a glance over his shoulder. She had definitely been right when she thought he wouldn't approve. He had made his point clear. Crystal clear.

"Shorty, go wait in the office. Leon just leave."

Shorty reached out and slapped the back of her brother's head, but turned and stomped to the office, slamming the door as hard as she could behind her. Pacing around the room her anger bubbled past boiling as she waited for Hector to enter the office. When she heard Leon's car start and his wheels screech as he pulled away from the garage, she hit the point of no return.

As the door opened Shorty faced it, clenching her fists and waiting for Hector to enter. His face was as red as hers as he slammed the door behind him, cutting off the spectacle for the rest of the team. "Leon? Really? Fuck Shorty! What the hell are you thinking? He's nothing but a dirty player. He's gonna fuck you and chuck you. Why put yourself in that position?" Hector yelled at her as he sat in the chair behind the desk.

"He won't. He's not gonna drop me Hector. And if he does, that's my problem. Not your's!"

"I don't wanna see you with him again," Hector said as he pushed away from the desk and stood. "He's a good for nothing grease monkey. Why can't you ever find a good man?"

"God damn it Hector! I'm a fucking grease monkey! You're a fucking grease monkey! And Leon is your friend. Why you gotta trip off him"? Shorty screamed, throwing a fist onto the table to emphasize her point.

"He's no good for you, and that's that. I don't know what you were thinking but I don't wanna see you together. Find a real man who'll take care of your stupid ass," he shouted back at her, spittle flying from his mouth.

Neither had been able to contain their anger for longer than a few minutes and both seemed to be losing control. "Fuck you Hector," Shorty said in a deadly calm voice and kicked the office door open. Keeping her eyes straight ahead she avoided the gazes of her team mates and walked towards her locker. Pulling her music player from her duffle bag she secured it to her coveralls, shoved the earbuds into place, turned the music up as loud as it would go and slid back under the 3000GT she had been working on.

Shorty worked non-stop for the rest of the day, her anger rising every few minutes and her thoughts never straying from her hatred towards her brother to how she could possibly fix things with Leon. The team had tried to talk to her during the day but she had ignored every last one of them, scowling at them if they tried to cheer her up.

When she felt a foot slam into the sole of her boot, signalling it was time to go home she slid out from under the Diablo, and looked up at whoever was trying to get her attention. Seeing Hector staring down at her she rolled her eyes, shoved him hard out of her way before grabbing her keys from her locker and climbing into her car. No need to talk to him. If he couldn't hear her out then she wasn't going to hear him out. Besides it was her life and she could make decisions for herself, whether they were good or bad.

Pulling away from the garage Shorty flipped Hector off and peeled out, spitting small rocks and dust up at him. She couldn't go home now. She couldn't face her team and definitely couldn't stommach her brother's smug grin. He was such an asshole for interfering in her life like that. Slamming her fist against the steering wheel she reached for her cell phone and turned the power off. No way for her cock sucking brother to get a hold of her.

Shorty drove around L.A. for a few hours, stopping by Edwin's house to smoke a bowl before deciding that she may as well head back to her house and retreat to her room. She had worked hard all day and she was exhausted. All she wanted to do was fall into bed and forget that the day had even happened. Stopping at the local Wendy's she ordered some food before heading home. Her stomach grumbled at her hungrily as the smell of food filled the car and she groaned.

When she pulled into the driveway she saw that the house lights were still on and scowled. Stepping from her car, she slid her earbuds back in, turned the music up and grabbed her cell phone before alarming her car and walking up the path. Throwing the door open Shorty didn't even bother to take off her shoes; she just walked past the team as they watched TV and descended the stairs.

Slamming her bedroom door behind her she flipped her stereo on before flopping on the bed and pulling her food from the take out bag. Her jaw cracked in agitation every time she took a bite of her burger but her mind was elsewhere. Why did Hector always have to be so protective? Why did she have to listen to him? She was twenty three now; she could damn well make up her own fucking mind without his input. When Shorty finished her food, she tossed the garbage into the trashcan before rummaging through her drawers. Pulling on a clean pair of Vince's boxers and a dark wife beater she turned the light off, slid under the covers and gazed at the roof.

Above her, planets and stars twinkled at her, and she could feel her anger ebbing away. Why could she never stay mad at Hector? Because he was so sweet and even simple gestures made so long ago still affected her heart. She remembered when they had first moved to L.A. and Hector had put the star stickers on her roof because she couldn't see the real ones through all the smog. She hadn't known he had done it until she had gone to bed. When she saw them she had flown out of bed and up the stairs to Hector's room, rushing through his open door and throwing herself at him giggling like mad.

Shorty groaned and turned onto her side, her eyes falling closed. She wasn't mad anymore no matter how much she wanted to be. Oh she would definitely ignore him for the rest of the night but she didn't think it would hold out until tomorrow. Now all she had to do was convince Hector that Leon was good for her. Of course, that was easier said than done, because like her, he was a stubborn ass.

Shifting onto her other side Shorty heard footsteps on the stairs and knew by the sound of them that they were Hector. She had forgiven him already, against her will, but she wanted him to suffer. So, when he knocked on her door she picked up a paperback book from her nightstand and hurled it at the door. "Baby girl, come on, please open up," he called quietly.

Rolling her eyes at nothing Shorty pulled her stereo remote from beneath her pillow and turned the volume up until it drowned out her brother's voice. Eventually she heard him stomping back up the stairs and slamming the basement door. "That's right punk, walk away," she mumbled before flipping on her bedside lamp and picking up another book to read. If she was going to take her mind off Leon, what better way to do it then by boring herself to sleep?

Shorty had been reading for no longer than half an hour when her concentration was broken by someone knocking on her bedroom door. Just when she had started to calm down she could feel herself getting all wound up again. Why couldn't Hector just leave her alone for once? Why, once she had finally succeeded in taking her mind off Leon did he have to come and knock on her door and remind her why she was reading in the first place?

Slapping her book back onto the nightstand she shot off the bed and strode towards the door. "What the fuck do you want now?" she yelled as she threw the door open wide.

"Well I was hoping to get laid, but I think that's out of the question, right?" Leon laughed while raising an eyebrow and giving her a cheeky grin.

Shock coursed through Shorty's body at seeing Leon standing so smugly in her doorway. "What? How the hell did you get passed security?" she asked and glanced up the stairs quickly. "Hector will gut you when he finds you here."

"You think so?" Leon teased and leaned against the doorframe easily. "Will he now?"

"For real Leon, how'd you get in?"

Stepping away from the doorframe Leon backed Shorty into her room and kicked the door closed behind him. He flicked the lock into place and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to his chest and sighed deeply, "Hector called me."

"Har har," she replied sarcastically until she realized he was completely serious. "Why'd he call you?" Shorty whispered from where her head was resting in the crook of his neck.

"He said he just wanted you to be happy, and that I seemed to make you happy," Leon answered softy, his hands resting on her hips as he pulled back to look in her eyes. "Plus I think he thinks you'll never forgive him. He said you ignored him all day and then threw something at the door when he tried to talk to you earlier."

Laughing gently Shorty looked up at Leon, "So, he's ok with us now?"

"Not really, but he said he'd try because it means so much to you. And he said he would kill me if I ever hurt you. I never noticed how scary your team is. I mean damn, those guys may be small - but when it comes to you, they're crazy."

"So we're good then? Even though I didn't tell him about us?"

"Yeah, we're cool," Leon laughed and pulled away from Shorty. Sitting on the bed he bounced on it a bit and grinned up at her from his seat, "So this is your room? Nice bed."

Rolling her eyes at him she crossed to the stereo and turned it off before crawling onto the bed and lying down. Pulling the TV remote from beneath her pillow she flicked it on and flipped through channels while Leon gazed around her room. Shorty smiled to herself as she continued flipping through channels. Maybe Hector wasn't such a dick after all. He had given in even though the last person he wanted his sister dating was Leon. She had to admit that she could see it from his point of view, after all Leon did have a reputation.

"I'll be right back," she said and was out the door before Leon could respond.

Jogging up the stairs lightly she rushed into the living room, where her team was relaxing and threw herself into Hectors lap. Grinning from ear to ear she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly and laughed. When she pulled away and looked into his face she saw happiness in his eyes. Happiness for her forgiveness. Happy because she was glowing from the inside out with happiness. "You're the best Hector! Thank you!" she laughed and placed a kiss on his forehead before sliding off his lap and crossing back the way she had come. Stopping in the kitchen doorway she looked over her shoulder at Hector, "I love you."

Descending the stairs quickly she shut her bedroom door behind her and climbed back up onto the bed where Leon was now spread out flipping through channels. Crawling towards him Shorty spread out beside him and laid her head against his chest. "What did you tell him?" Leon asked as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her.

"The usual, that the sun shines out of his ass," Shorty laughed and closed her eyes. "You do realize he'll be down here in a few minutes to kick you out, don't you?"

"I know, but if we get naked now, we can squeeze in a quickie before he comes down," Leon joked and kissed the top of her head.

Flipping to the Cartoon Network, Leon grinned when he realized Undergrads was on. Setting the remote down beside him he watched the show while Shorty closed her eyes and relaxed. Just lying beside Leon was bliss; she could stay there for eternity if Hector permitted it. He was so warm, and smelt amazing. He always smelt good, a combination of Swiss Army and soap, and she knew the combination of those smells would forever be imprinted in her memory. Propping her chin up on his chest Shorty looked into Leon's eyes and smiled. People could change. Leon could change. She could change. Maybe together they could both change. Being a player had its perks, but some things were better than that.

"What?" Leon asked and tucked some stray hair behind her ear.

"Nothing," she answered and leaned up to place a soft kiss upon his lips. "Nothing at all."

A/N: Thanks so much to bizchelc and Love Ink, who actually reviewed. I bet the sun shines out of your asses! :) Well, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please review if you're reading, I love to hear from you. Also, if you haven't already please check out my one shot, titled, Pawn Pieces. I would adore some feedback! Happy belated humpday! Oh! And thank you to choirbandgeek for the alert/favorite. Muchly appreciated!