Relec allowed his eyes to open and stared up at the white ceiling above him. He'd been here for five days, just thinking about things and helping Mrs. Davenport out around the house like a son would do for his mother. She kept telling him it was a joy having him around, but that he needed to go home. Back to his past, to face it. Race Wars would begin tomorrow and early in the morning he would be getting in his car and driving away from his new home to go race alongside his sisters, and face Puck once and for all.

It was kind of odd seeing his emerald green RX-7, decked out for racing in front of a homey house with green grass and rose bushes that just screamed 'Grandma's House!' at you. It was a family neighborhood, so of course his car got the attention of the kids that ran around after school got out. He'd spend time playing basketball with the kid across the street, eventually having to drag the hoop out into the street and create teams. The kids just seemed to accept him, and Relec was slightly surprised. They were in awe of his punk look and expensive car, and he knew that more than a few of the girls had developed crushes on him. Their parents liked him because he kept them out of trouble. It was the suburbs, pure and simple. Everyone's parents were together, everyone was happy, they rode their bikes and walked to school everyday with their friends instead of bumming rides with older brothers or gang friends. They didn't spend their time shoplifting, tagging or making bets. They didn't know what drag racing was, and were amazed to find out that he raced.

It was quite and peaceful here, but it wadn't him. Relec belonged in the world of fast cars, casual sex and money. His appearence seemed to say here I am! Shoot me! here, it wasn't anywhere near normal by any standards, since most of his friends were rappers and listened to people like DMX and Jennifer Lopez. These kids listened to Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears - which disgusted him and he had actually played basketball the other night with Ja Rule blasting from his car stereo.

He needed to go back. To face his past and to keep his sanity. It was too quiet here.

~ * ~

"Vince! Put me down!"

Allana was screaming and pounding on Vince's back as he spun around in circles in the middle of the street. He laughed and shouted, "Neva!!!"

Allana let out another screech and then started laughing as her hair flew around her and her injured foot flew out in the opposite direction. Vince stopped and set her on her feet, both standing there holding onto each other as they waited for the world to stop spinning. They continued to laugh slightly as Vince leaned down and pressed his forehead to Allana's. She looked up at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him. He lifted her off the ground as he returned the hug and set her down again. He brushed strands of her hair out of her eyes and leaned foreward, kissing her softly. She returned the kiss.

"I love you V."

"I love you too Ally."

~ * ~

"Jesse? Get me the hose so I can water these poor roses?"

Kittie stood crouched in front of the house before a dying rose bush. The team had spent the day getting ready for Race Wars, and Reighn had called Relec, finding out that he'd meet them there. She was happy that he'd taken the time out of his life to do some soul searching, and from what she'd heard he was loving the rest and relaxation. She had finished packing her overnight bag and had given her car one last once over before spotting the neglected bush.

"Jesse?"

Kittie let out a small shriek as she was sprayed with water. She feel to her backside and glared up at Jesse, who stood, holding the hose and laughing at her. She whiped water out of her eyes and climbed to her feet before diving at Jesse, causing him to hollar in surprise and drop the hose. She dove for it and turned on him, an evil grin over her features. His eyes widened and he backed up, hands up in mock surrendur as he shook his head. She nodded and lifted the hose, plaicng her thumb over the nozzle and spraying him with the water. He shouted in surprise before running at her, turning the hose so that she was spraying herself. She shrieked in surprise and jumped at Jesse, causing him to drop the hose in order to catch her. They fell to the ground as Jesse's feet slid on the muddy ground and they landed in a laughging, wet heap.

Kittie stared up at the sky and rolled over, resting her chin on Jesse's chest. "Jesse?"

"Hmmmm?" He lifted his arm away from his face and lifted his head, looking at her.

"Do you love me?" she asked softly.

Surprise stole over his face as he lifted himself up onto his elbows, "Of course I do Kittie."

"Really?"

"Yeah really." he replied.

Kittie grinned and sat up, straddling Jesse's waist and looking down at him. He closed his eyes, "Don't move."

"Why?"

"You block the sun."

"Jesse!" Kittie laughed and leaned over him, kissing his lips lightly before jumping up and heading for the house.

Jesse leapt to his feet and gave chase, "Come back here Kittie-Kat!"

~ * ~

Reighn smiled as she wastched Jesse chase Kittie around the corner from the front of the house as she ran into the house, laughing. She was happy for Kittie and Allana, they'd found their someones, like she had. Suddenly she frowned as her thoughts drifted to Relec. He really needed to do some soul searching, to ley himself heal from the loss of Corrin, and she hoped that his five days away was enough time to do so. He wasn't happy, no matter how much he faked it and she could see that. She wanted him to be happy, he was her big brother in every sense of the word, and he deserved to be happy.

Reighn heard someone approaching and looked over, watching as Leon climbed up onto the picknick table next to her, "Whatcha thinkin' about beautiful."

"Relec." she replied truthfully, leaning back into his arms as he wrapped them around her and rested his chin on her head. "I hope he finds what he's looking for. He deserves to be happy. Like the rest of us."

"He will. And if he doesn't, he can go again until he does find it." Leon replied. "Relec's a complicated guy, and wherever he is he's looking. Give him time."

"So you think Mia still loves Brian?" Reighn asked softly, looking up at him.

"I don't know." he replied, "Brian loves her, he wouldn't have come back. I think he left because he was scared. He had soul searching to do as well."

"I know. He seems like an okay guy, from what I've heard." Reighn said softly, "I want Mia to be happy. Even if it means accepting Brian and letting him back into the family."

"Yeah." Leon said, "But I don't know if her heart is ready for it yet. Or if he is ready to try again. Dom gave him one hell of a talking to."

"Do you think he'll try again?"

"Yeah." Leon said, kissing the top of Reighn's head, "I would if I were him and Mia was you. I know how he feels. I love someone just as much as he does."

"I love you to Leon." Reighn said looking up to meet his green eyes with her own violet ones, "I love you more than anything in the world."

Leon smiled, "I love you to. Always will, until Forever and after Forever ends."

~ * ~

"Dom?"

Dom looked up and smiled as Letty walked over and sat down in his lap, "Yeah babe?"

"Do you hate Brian?"

"No." Dom replied, "He made up for lying to us by saving Vince and letting me walk. I'm just pissed at him for breaking Mia's heart."

"So if Mia let him back in, would you?" Letty asked, searching his eyes with her own.

"Yeah, I dunno about the guys, but I would. I want to see Mia happy, and if Brian makes her happy, then I'll deal." Dom replied.

Letty smiled, "Why did you get rid of the Supra Dom?"

"I didn't." Dom replied, "It's in a storage garage since we haven't got anyone to drive it. I finished repairing her and put her away. Why?"

"I think Brian might be going with us to Race Wars."

"What?"

Letty gave him a look that told him not to do anything rash. "On my way here I saw his car parked in front of the grocery. He was sitting inside it debating with himself on whether or not to go inside."

Dom nodded and wrapped his arms more securely around Letty, "Let's hope that they both come out of it alive."

~ * ~

Mia sighed, there was nothing to do. She stocked the shelves. Twice. Swept the floor, flipped through her issue of a car magazine three times and actually had a beer. Which was surprising since she didn't really drink. She drank a little, like Allana. Kittie was underage, and Reighn didn't drink at all. She'd never smoked, done drugs or drunk ever in her life, Mia found that admirable, considering the other woman's past. Those weren't her issues though, and she decided to stay out of her business. She admired Leon and Reighn's relationship also. They never looked at another guy or girl and when the other was in the room, their worlds narrowed until only the other person existed. She wanted something like that.

She was happy for Vince. He'd found his one and only. She'd practically broken his heart and he'd picked himself op, dusted himself off and nearly got himself killed. But he had Allana, and he was smitten, just like the object of his affections was smitten with her. They were good for each other. They balanced each other out, Allana, with her innocence and soft spoken personality and Vince, with his strength and protectiveness.

Jesse and Kittie were an adorable couple. She was only nineteen, and Jesse was a still a baby to her, only twentyone - barely. Kittie was a ball of hyperactive energy, a whirlwind of activity. She always had to be doing something. Jesse was somehow able to keep up with her, moving from place to place with Kittie at lightning speed. They were cute togther, always joking together and laughing. It had become an outspoken rule to everyone that they were a couple, and they didn't complain. Kittie softened Jesse's rough edges, and Jesse calmed her down, revealing the caring, rational side of her.

Dom and Letty. They were different. They always seemed to be fighting over something, until recently. Reighn had come into their lives and Leon had reeled her in immedialtely, and then she'd neatly wrapped him around her finger. Their relationship was like a blow to the head for Dom, making him finally realize what he'd been doing wrong. He started out small, begining by completely ignoring any other women, even though he still talked to them civily. Then he'd moved up and had finally told the world that Letty was taken, and she was he. When he'd wrapped his arm around Letty last Friday and refused to let go the other woman had glowed. They were happy now, and since they weren't fighting any more Dom had started opening up.

Relec was odd. He loved a dead woman, and he would never really love anyone else. The boy had unresolved issues, reclusive tendancies and still remained utterly in love with Corrin. She wanted something like that. A love that would last beyond the grave. She wanted a soulmate.

Mia sighed again and sifted her weight as she flipped the pages of the magazine as she stared off into space. Brian. It all came down to him. She still loved him, even if he had broken her heart by taking off and dissapearing. At some point she would have thought of him to be her soulmate, but he hadn't come back. Weren't soulmates supposed to come back, no matter where they went? She heard someone enter the grocery and sit down in front of her.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked without looking up.

"Oh I dunno. How's the tuna here?"

Mia's head snapped up. Brian. He was sitting in front of her watching for a reaction, obviously scared of rejection, "Well, let me think. It sucked yesterday, is sucked the day before. Sorry, it hasn't changed."

"I'll have the tuna." he replied with a smile.

"No crust?"

"No crust." he said as Mia moved away to make the sandwhich.

A moment later she placed it in front of him and leaned her elbows on the counter, resting her head in her hands. "You planing on sticking around this time cowboy?"

He looked up and met her eyes, "Ain't got no where to go."

"Good." Mia replied. "Cause Race Wars starts tomorrow and I need a date."

Brian grinned.