Mel stared at the flames that cracked and popped in the fireplace. When he'd let himself into Angela's apartment, he'd expected her to be there. It was snowing outside, and he knew she didn't have class. He'd gone there seeking solace in the one person who seemed to understand him lately. His dad was gone; he'd had a heart attack. Whoever had found him had called Kozik first, and his lovely older brother had called, told him their dad was dead, and hung up. Kozik didn't give a shit about their father. Their relationship had been broken long ago, but Mel still loved him. They'd talked daily. His old man was helping foot his school bills. Mel took a swig of tequila, grimacing as it burned his throat. Where was she?

The front door opened and Angela breezed in, brushing snow off her black beanie and toeing of her snowboots. "Hey Melly," she greeted, hanging up her scarf and jacket. She breezed through the room happily, leaning over the back of the couch to ruffle his hair.

"Hey," he replied his voice, soft and rough.

Angela's eyebrows furrowed in concern as she sat down next to him. "What's up, dude?" she asked, reaching out a hand to play with his soft hair. "Why are you so mopey?"

"My dad died," he answered, brokenly.

She let a quiet gasp, just noticing the tequila bottle in his hand. "Aw. I'm sorry, Melly. That's...that sucks."

Mel leaned his head against her shoulder. Letting himself cry into her shoulder as she rubbed her hand up and down his back. "He's just gone," he sobbed.

"I know, Melly. I know," she murmured before grabbing the bottle from him. "C'mon. This calls for a drinking game."

"Ang..."

"Shut up. Let's have some tequila," she said, grabbing the bottle from him and turning on the TV. She found a cheesy soap opera re-run and laid down a few ground rules. "Every time the music swells dramatically."

"Every time the women glare at each other," Mel added, sniffling a bit.

Angela laughed, pouring both of them shots. "Every time there's a fight!"

They went back and forth, making rules and taking shots. It wasn't long until they were plastered, leaning against each other in support. He looked over at her, his blue eyes glassy. "Y'know how hot you are, Gee?" he slurred, looking at her face.

She giggled, rolling her eyes at him. "What?"

"You," he said, staring intently at her. "If Kozik hadn't warned me to stay away, I'da..."

"Done what?" she challenged, eyebrows raised. The liquor was making her bolder than usual. "You're a total chicken shit, Melly. You think I don't know how you feel about me?"

Mel was surprised by her blunt response. He had no idea that she knew. She never said anything about it. His head was hazy and his heart was aching, but Angela could heal that ache in his heart. Just being near her was making it subside. He leaned in and caught her lips with his own in a hard kiss. She kissed him back just as forcefully, her hands grabbing onto the front of his shirt. And then he was pushing her back, his hand snaking under her shirt, the liquor in his veins giving him the courage to continue.

A little voice in the back of her head told her to stop him. He was using her as a way to get over his dad dying. Another, drunker part didn't give a shit. The last person she'd slept with had been Greg the Peg months ago, and she was feeling lonely anyway. Mel was safe. She trusted him. Why not give into her most primal urge?

She was reminded of the answer to that question early the next morning. Her head was pounding as she sat up in bed. Looking over at Mel, she wasn't surprised to see he was still passed out. The events of the night before were hazy at best, but she knew what had happened. She'd slept with Mel. Quickly, she threw back the covers and got out of bed. If Hap or Kozik got home and saw them together, they were dead meat.

Slowly, she pulled on some clothes and headed out to the kitchen to start the coffeemaker. She was almost there when she heard a voice from the couch. "You fuck Mel?" Happy asked, looking over his shoulder at her. He had a beer in his hand, his dark eyes looked tired as they surveyed her.

"No. He just slept over. He sleeps in my bed all the time, Hap," she lied, trying to play it off as no big deal. "Doesn't mean anything dirty."

"Bull shit. Saw his naked ass in your bed," he stated disappointedly. "He's using you. He's hurtin' and wants you to make it better."

"I know," she answered softly.

"You're better than that, kid," he told her, getting up off the couch and heading into the kitchen.

She scowled down at her mug, wondering if that was true. Lately, it didn't feel like it. "Am I?" she asked, insecurity bleeding into her voice. "I mean, Mel's almost a doctor. Maybe...maybe I should be going after someone like him. Maybe he is better than me."

"Hey," Hap said, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. "You're better than that asshat. No way that guy will treat you right."

She jerked her chin away. "You say that about every guy I date, Hap," she muttered, dumping a few spoonfuls of sugar into her coffee. "Plus, we just had sex. 's not like we're going to start dating."

Mel walked in then, his hair a mess. He nodded his greeting to Happy before approaching Angela. Dipping his head, he caught her lips in a quick kiss, his hand squeezing her ass. "Mornin' cutie. Thanks for last night," he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Hey Hap."

Angela's eyes were wide as she looked at Happy from behind Mel's back. Mel had just made the dumbest mistake of his life. Kissing her in front of her cousin, thanking her for sleeping with him as if she were some...some prostitute while grabbing her ass, all in front of Happy and then turning around to greet him as if nothing was wrong was a sign of disrespect in the Tacoma killer's eyes. With one quick move, Happy pulled back his fist and launched it into Mel's face. Mel hit the floor hard, blood pouring from his nose. "Don't fuckin' touch her again," Happy growled, looming over Mel. "Ya hear me, punk?"

Mel's eyes sought out Angela for help, but she didn't even flinch. Her eyes followed Happy's back as he stormed out of the apartment. Once the door slammed behind him, she let out a long breath. "You're a dumbass," she said, holding out a hand to help him to his feet.

He took it and let her pull him up. "How bad does it look?" he asked, opening the freezer to get an ice pack.

Angela looked at his cheek and sighed, "It's gonna be one nasty bruise."

"You know I wasn't thanking you for the...the..."

"Sex?" she put in for him, an amused smile on her face. "Of course. I know that. But groping and thanking me in front of my cousin was not the smartest thing you've ever done."

Mel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Guess you're right. My brother come in? I think I should talk to him about...funeral stuff."

"He didn't come home last night," she answered softly, worry written all over her face. Kozik had been staying with her for almost a year now while he worked to get clean and stay clean. "Was about to call him. Make sure he's all right."

"He's fine," he said, waving away her concern. He pulled Angela into his arms and held her tightly. "I'm the one that needs you."

Angela hugged him back awkwardly, feeling just a little suffocated and a bit pissed that Mel didn't seem to give a shit about his big brother. She pushed him away gently. "That's great and all, and I'm here for you, but Koz..."

"He's fine, Gee," he assured her, playing with her hair.

She fought the urge to swat his hand away. "Well, I'm going to check on him anyway."

"Gee, c'mon," he said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to him. "Stay with me. I need you."

Angela wavered in her resolve for a moment. The way he was looking at her made her stomach do weird things, but she had a responsibility to Kozik. She was his sponsor. His grief could lead him right back to the needle, and that was one thing she didn't want. "I can't," she said softly, pulling away from him and heading to the phone. She dialed his personal line and waited.

It took forever but finally, Kozik answered. "Hey kiddo," he greeted, his voice rougher than usual. "I'm okay."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Where are you?"

"On my way to you. You got a minute?"

She was aware of Mel's watchful eyes on her, the disappointment that was written all over his face. "For you? Always," she said with a sad smile. "I'll see you in a minute then. Love you, Kozi."

Mel waited until she hung up the phone before asking, "He comin' over?"

She nodded, twisting her ring nervously around her finger. "He needs someone to talk to."

"Whatever, Gee," he said, shaking his head.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Wasn't I there for you last night? Didn't I help you? What more do you want from me, Mel?"

"Nothing," he muttered dejectedly. "I gotta go. Sort stuff out for the funeral. I'll call later."

She grabbed his wrist gently, holding him there. "Mel, I care about you. You know that. I want you to be okay just as much as I want Koz to be. He just...needs more attention."

The corner of Mel's lips turned up in a small smile. "Whatever you say," he whispered before leaning over and catching her lips in a soft kiss. "Will you be here later?"

"You know I will be."

"Can I come over? Stay the night? Don't really feel like being alone."

Angela's dark eyes met his crystal blue ones for a moment, trying to assess what he was really asking. Was this going to be the start of a new kind of relationship for them? He'd put the ball in her court, and, frankly, she didn't know what to do with it. "Mel..."

"Look, Gee, you know how I feel about you. I don't want this to be a one time thing. Life is...really short, and I want to be with you for as long as I can."

A blush rose to her cheeks, and she ducked her head to hide it. She loved Mel, she really did, but her love wasn't the same as his. But maybe it could be. Maybe, with time, she could fall in love with him the same way he'd called for her. "Okay," she answered on a nod.

Mel looked confused for a brief moment. "Is that an 'okay', you want to be with me?"

She hesitated, questioning how much of her wanted to be with him because she felt something for him and how much of it had to do with what she'd talked to Happy about earlier. Was she settling for him because she knew he was better than the tattooed, rough around the edges type of guy she usually fell for? After a moment, she nodded again. "Yeah."

His responding smile made her feel guilty as sin, but she managed to smile back. He took her face in his hands and kissed her soundly on the mouth. "I'll see you later, then."

"Mm-hmm," she replied, watching as he walked out the door. Once he was gone, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in. Raking her hands through her hair, she wondered if she'd just made a huge mistake.

A two months later, she realized what a mistake it was. She stood in her room staring at the shiny pink dress with the ruffled skirt that was laid out on her bed. The one he had bought for her to wear to his fraternity formal later that night despite the fact she hated pink and hated formals. But that was Mel. He had taken over her whole life, making her go places and do things she didn't want to do. She was starting to hate him for it, and she was starting to hate herself for letting him take over her life.

Kozik knocked on her door, opening it when he heard her call him in. She looked at him briefly before looking back at the dress. He raised his eyebrows as he moved to stand next to her. "What's with the cupcake dress?" he asked.

"Mel's got one of those fuckin' formals tonight," she said, frowning at it. "He wants me to wear this."

He looked confused for a brief moment. "It's pink."

"I fuckin' know."

"You don't wear pink."

"I fuckin' know."

Kozik looked around the room, his eyes landing on a simple black dress hanging on her bathroom door. "What's wrong with that dress?"

"Apparently, its not classy enough. Too fuckin' short," she said, sighing again. "So he bought me this one."

"So you'll look like a cupcake instead. Classy."

She shrugged a shoulder. "It's what all the other girls fucking wear."

"So?"

Angela cut her eyes to him in a glare. "It's just one fuckin' night."

"What's with the language, Angie-pie? Not that I mind, but usually you're not as...careless with your 'fucks'."

"I know. I just...Mel doesn't like when I say it around him, so I'm trying to get it all out before the formal because that is a fight I don't want to fucking have again."

Kozik looked her over again, a worried look in his blue eyes. "You don't have to listen to him, you know. Mel's as bad as that Mayan dickwad. Controlling you and shit. When you gonna learn that ain't right?"

"I don't let him control me. I'm...I need to change. I can't be this foul mouthed little...chola in the professional world. I have to have some class."

He looked at her as if she'd gone crazy. "Goddamn. If Hap heard you talkin' like that..."

Angela smiled sadly and shrugged. "I'm bettering myself."

"Gross," he said on a scowl. "Stop giving me all Mel's bullshit. This ain't you, Angie."

"I don't know who I am."

Kozik sighed and grabbed her shoulders, turning her to face him. "You are Angela Ines Ruiz. You don't wear pink. You love the word 'fuck'. You take care of people when they need you. You're goddamn nice to everyone even if they don't deserve it. And you sure as hell don't let some idiot motherfucker control you," he told her as she rolled her eyes at him. "Don't roll your eyes at me. Listen to what I'm saying. You are a strong, beautiful lady who has more class in your little pinky then I got in my whole body and doesn't need a man to survive. Now fuckin' act like it."

Angela smiled a little, tears brimming her lower lashes. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. It was a long, ridiculous pep talk, but she'd needed it. "Thank you," she breathed, burying her face into his chest.

He hugged her back, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. "Love you, kiddo. Hate seein' you change yourself for that asshole."

"He's your brother," she reminded him as she let go.

Kozik shrugged a shoulder. "He's in the wrong on this one. Now put on that little black dress and strut your stuff."

An hour later, Mel walked through the door to find Angela in her black dress and high heeled ankle boots. He stopped at the door, a confused look on his face. "What happened to the dress I got you?" he asked, his eyes darting from her to Kozik who was pretending not to listen from his place on the couch.

"I don't wear pink," she stated on a shrug.

"But I bought that dress just for you. It wasn't cheap, Gee!" he exclaimed, anger in his tone.

Angela shrugged again. "So return it. I didn't take off the tags."

"Well, you can't go looking like that! You look like a street walker!"

Kozik looked over his shoulder at her, waiting to intervene if necessary, but she didn't seem to need it. She was standing with her arms crossed over her chest, that dark look in her eyes. "I'm going in this or I'm not fucking going," she said calmly.

"Again with the language. C'mon, Gee! I thought we were over this! Just change and let's go, we're running late."

"No," she said simply.

"No?" he repeated, a mixture of shock and anger written all over his face. "What the hell, Gee? What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with you? You said you fell in love with me for who I am, right?" she asked, frustration in her tone. "Then why do you keep trying to change me?"

Mel blinked at her and shook his head. "I'm just trying to help you, Gee. Make you better."

"That's the problem, though. I don't need to be better. I've let you change me into this...sorority girl. Not that that's a bad thing, they're fine. I like some of them. They're smart and shit but that's not me! You choose what I wear, what I do, how I talk, and I just...let you! Just like I let Esai, and that's...that's not right!" she exclaimed, feeling stronger and stronger with every word. "I'm not going to let you control me anymore. I deserve better."

"Better than me? You really think you're going to get better than me?" he blurted out without even realizing it.

Angela drew in a deep breath, squaring her shoulders as she stood tall. "I do. And you know what? I don't think it'll even be that hard."

"So this is it. You're ending this because you can't put on a dress and act like a lady for one damn night?"

Kozik chuckled from his seat on the couch. "You best leave now, Melly," he warned without turning to look at him. " 'fore you start digging the hole you're gonna be buried in."

"Oh shut up! This doesn't even concern you," Mel shouted at his back. "Real mature, Gee. Start a fight with him here. Hide behind him and your cousin as usual."

Angela laughed in his face; she hadn't even noticed Koz was there until he spoke up. There was nothing he could do to hurt her anymore. She was feeling freer than ever. "He lives here, Mel," she reminded him. "And I'm not hiding behind him. You want to yell at me, go right ahead, but don't be surprised if I end up smacking you because you are skating on very thin ice."

Kozik slow clapped from his spot on the couch. "That's my girl!"

Without another word, Mel stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him. Silence filled the room for a brief moment before Angela sighed. "That went well," she muttered, looking down at her heels. "All dressed up and nowhere to go."

The front door opened again. Both Angela and Kozik turned to see who it was only to find Happy there, a confused look on his face. "What?"

"The kid broke up with Mel," Kozik told him, grunting as he got up from the couch. "Now she's all dressed up with nowhere to go."

Happy looked her over before shrugging. "Dress is too short anyway," he stated. Angela rolled her eyes, grabbing her clutch off the counter. Happy stood in her way, not moving an inch from the door. "Where you goin'?"

"Out," she said, trying to push by him. When he didn't move, she took a step back and breathed in deeply. "I did my hair, I did my make up, I put on this damn dress and these heels. I just broke up with my controlling-ass boyfriend and do not need to deal with my controlling-ass cousin and his lemonheaded buddy. I want to go out!" She emphasized the last word with a stamp of her foot that she was not proud of.

Happy and Kozik exchanged glances before both of them started cracking up. Kozik got up from the couch, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Isn't there some kind of party goin' on over in Seattle tonight?"

Happy smirked and nodded. At his cousin's hopeful look, he stepped aside. He could tell she wasn't dealing with the break up nearly as well as it seemed and knew keeping her cooped up inside wouldn't lead to anything good. At least if he took her to the party, he'd be there to look out for her. It was a better option than having her sneak out and go somewhere they couldn't find her. "C'mon, kid. Let's go."

Angela looked relieved as she moved to hug him. "Thank you, Hap."