Lucas's house is nothing like I thought. It was a single story. The house was wood an painted white with a wrap around porch. The yard was cleared of snow an a metal fence surrounded the area. I hop out the truck with the tray of brownies, hoping there would be enough. Joey knocks on the door an Lucas opens the door, sming at us. " Come in, you are a little early." we walk in an Joey takes my coat an sets it in the closet. I hand my dish to Lucas," There were more but a few of the guys at the house decided to get into them." I say. A little boy runs into the room an he laches onto Joey's leg," Reap, you are here." Joey smiles down at him. " I am Parker. I want to intriduce yiu to my old lady, Laura." Joey says an gestering to me. I wave an he waves back. The boy has Lucas's blonde hair. His eyes are blue unlike Lucas's brown. Lucas walks away. Parker lets go of Joey's leg an looks at me."Do you like Legos?" He ask. I smile down at him," I love Legos, Parker." Parker smiles an grabs my hand,"Come play Legos with me. I want to build a boat. " He pulls me to a play area by the front of the house. I look at Joey an he smiles an points to the kitchen. I nodd an sits on the floor with Parker. He shoves a pile of Legos infront of me. I pick a pieces an assemble them to a weird boat. We sit like that as more people begin to arrive. Parker is half way done with his boat when I hear someone yell," Get the fuck down." I hear gun fire outside an I grab Parker an push him in a corner by the fire place. The gum fire is quickly over an a few of the bikers, thay attended, ran outside. Lucas run in the living room. His face is filled with panic his face pales when Parker isn't in his play area. I pull away an sit back. Lucas sees Parker when I move an runs over to us. He grabs Parker up an wraps his arms around him. I see tears run down his face. Lucas pushes a crying Parker into his chest an holds him to his chest. Joey falls to his knees beside me. " Laura, where are you hurt?" I hear him ask frenetically. I look at him confused. He is pointing at the blood on my dress. I quickly look at Parker in Lucas's arms an see he is unhurt. I begin to feel the pain in my thigh. I see people rush around us. Joey yells for someone to get him a towel. I look down at my leg, seeing blood smeared everywhere. I grab Joey face an pull him to look at me," Hey, Big Guy, calm down. I am fine. They didn't hit an artery. There are probably people in worst conditions. I just need someone to pull the bullet out an bandage me up. Ok?" He looks panicked," You are the first priority." Lucas says. He is now sitting next to Joey. Parker is with someone else. I smile at Lucas," I am fine. I just need someone to dig the bullet out." Lucas looks at me," No, you are first priority. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have my son. You not only moved him, but you shielded him with your body. Now, Killer is coming in a few minutes. He has medical training. I want to hear no fuss." I nod my head. Joey presses towels to my leg an I hiss," Fuck, Joey, that hurts." He looks like it hurt him worst. I pulls his face to me an lightly kiss him. He kisses me hard, taking my breath away. I pull away an look at him. There is pure fear in his eyes. His breathing is uneven. "Hey, Big Guy, look at me," Joey looks me in the eye. I grab his hand an set it on my chest, where he could feel my heartbeat.," I am fine, stop worrying." His eyes flip from panic to anger," Don't worry, baby? You were just shot at a fucking pot-luck. You just put you life before somone else's. The bullet could have hit you anywhere. I could be holing your lifeless body. " I pull his face towards me an press my lips to his," But you aren't an I am fine." We just stare into each others eyes. I hear a throat being cleared. I pull back looking at a biker. He is wearing leather pants an a black t-shirt. His left hand holds a huge first aid kit. His brown hair covers park of a scar on his collar. His eyes are ice blue. This is the man that helped Joey kill someone. " Lucas said I needed to remove a bullet an wrap you up." Joey pulls the towel away. Killer gets down on his knees an pulls out a pair of forcepts an a syringe an needle. He sticks my legs with the needle an it completly goes numb about two minutes later. He pushes the forcepts into my leg an pulls out a bullet quickly. Joey watches him. He then grabs antiseptic an rubs it over my wound a wraps it up. He hands Joey a bottle an stands up, quickly walking away. Joey picks me up bridal style an sets me on the ruined couch. There was about six bullet holes in it. Parker runs over to me," Thank you, Laura. I didn't mean for you to get hurt." He says. I wrap my arms around him an pull him into a hug," It's fine, I am glade it is me an not you." Joey is hovering over me an Lucas walks to us. He ask to talj to Joey an they both leave. Parker sits beside me an mindlessly chatters. Joey storms out the house. I look at Lucas an he looks worried. He will not loom at me. Parker geta up an runs into the kitchen. Lucas walks over to me. " I am going to move you to a room upstairs so you can rest." I nod my head, Lucas picks me up gently an carries me upstairs, setting me on the bed. He cobers me up an tucks me in. " Thank you again for my sons life, Sweetcheeks." " Anytime" I mumble as I fall asleep.

I am later jolted awake when a arm wraps around my waist." Go back to sleep, baby. I just want to hold you for a little while. Joey whispers. I turn so I am facing him. I run my fingers through his hair," Where did you go earlier?" I whisper Joey kisses my forehead an pulls me tighter to him," I was just taking care of some stuff baby. I love you, you know that right." I kiss his lips softly,"Yes, I know you love me, but do you know that I truly love you?" Joey pulls me close," Yes, I do baby." I snuggle into him an close my eyes. I take a deep breath an smell mint an leather. I kiss his bare chest an fall asleep. I wake up the next morning. Joey is gone. The night stand has a stealed envelope adressed to me. Dear Laura, I have to protect you. Reaper I feel the tears run down my face. I clinch the note to my chest an scream out all the pain I am feeling. Lucas is quickly in my room. He sees me crying. He walks over an wraps his arms around me. "It will be ok." is all his say while my world crumbles around me.