A/N: As promised in the Black Friday Epilogue, here is Axel's origin story. This is the first of two parts.

SLS is Mercedes' stage name, and NeNe is Vanessa's.

Letty sat pensively in her guest bathroom as she heard voices on the other side of the door. Her head was in a bit of a fog that she could not quite get herself out of. She was ogling at a familiar item in her hand. "Well that was unexpected." Letty told herself quietly as continued to shake the device in search of a different answer.

"Letty?" She heard a knock that interrupted her thoughts. It was her management representative pressing her for time. "Are you in there?"

"Just a minute", she answered compulsively wrapping her pregnancy test in some toilet paper, and hiding it in the small clothes hamper.

"We've been waiting for ages. The press is getting restless." The representative urged. Her manager had set up an interview with People Magazine to promote her latest tournament. She was one of the few racers to grace the cover due to the fact that her notoriety and 'don't give a fuck' attitude had made her a crowd favorite over the years.

"Just a minute!" She said before opening the door and letting out another deep breath. "I'm ready." Letty announced as she was escorted down to a small sitting area in the guesthouse. It was completely illuminated for her official interview.

"It's an honor to meet you." The interviewer greeted. She was a young Latina woman with great presence.

"Why thank you." Letty responded cheerfully, as she worked to turn on the charm.

"There aren't many women in your industry, let alone a power house like yourself. You have your own energy drink, massive charity organization, and your athletic-wear line. What don't you do?"

"There is always more to be done."

"How do you balance it all? Do you often have time for yourself?"

"I have a great likeminded partner to invest with and who keeps me very grounded. I've been very lucky."

"Do you speak of your husband?"

"Yes, he's involved in all my endeavors, even my mothers beauty shop."

"I here that place is always busy. I've been trying to get an appointment for weeks, and it's always booked."

"Really? I can pull some strings."

"I just moved here from New York and it is hard to find a good Dominican blow out in Los Angeles."

"Indeed, I got you girl."

"Really?"

"I will put you on that list."

"That's amazing! I don't think your fans have any idea of just how cool you really are."

"Thanks", Letty said with a chuckle. "It's no trouble."

"Some say this is your best season, yet. Would you agree?"

"It looks promising, but I won't know for sure until the end. Anything can happen."

"Such as your husband winning the cup?"

"That's always possible." Letty smirked at the reporter.

"It can't be easy having so much competition under one roof."

"It keeps things fresh. We're very competitive people. There's always something to be the best at. If it's not cars, it's other sports, if it's not that than it's parenting. We're even competitive with the kids. I don't believe people should win unless they deserve and earn it."

"I'm sure you've let the kids win from time to time as most parents do."

"Never, my son did not score a touch down against his father until he was ten, and now he has a full ride to UCLA because he's that good. Competition does well for the soul. We thrive off of it."

"That is so interesting. You made your first television appearance a few years ago on SLS's reality show, and had your second last week on her daughter's Disney sitcom OMG, is this something you may want to transition into?"

"God no, I actually hate fame. My Goddaughter begged me to do it so I did. It's definitely a one-time thing. The less people see of me the better for my mental health."

"NeNe started around the same age as your daughter. Do you plan to have her in the spotlight?"

"Absolutely not, I don't want that life for her. SLS knows what she's doing. I haven't seen anyone work the industry quite like her, and I've known her since we were thirteen. However, I wouldn't be so savvy in that world. I see what it does to young girls, and I rather not take the risk with my daughter. She can decide later in time what path she wants to take."

"I know you tend to shy away from the subject, but you're still relatively young. Do you plan on anymore kids?"

"You never know." Letty said ambiguously just as Dom showed up behind the reporter with a bag of food. "Is that fritura?" Letty asked interrupting her own interview.

"Straight from your momma", he smirked at his wife.

"Yes!" She exclaimed before turning to the reporter. "I'm sorry. I've been starving for hours."

"That's fine. We're about to wrap up any way."

"She was asking me about kids. What do you think?" She said taking the opportunity to get his stance on the matter. They had not talked about having more children in years. When the conversation did come up, it seemed they always came to the same conclusion. Three was enough.

"You never know. It doesn't really make sense right now. Teenagers are a lot of work and we have two."

"What will be will be." Letty said clearing her throat. She was hoping the inner turmoil was not written all over her face.

"Thank you so much for your time." The reporter commented while shaking Letty's hand.

"You're welcome", she said before running to her kitchen, and leaving their crew members to pick up the equipment. Once she made it to the kitchen and served herself some tostones with chicharron all was well with the world. "Thank you baby this is hitting the spot." Letty said as she devoured her meal. Dom placed a dotting kiss on her forehead.

"Sorry it took so long. Traffic was a bitch, and I had to drive across town. Why is Ana so far any way again?"

"It was the only venue she liked, and now she has 'a bajo a cualto que no se Le quita'." (stench of money she can't get rid of)

"Well if she's rolling in it that means we are too since we get a percentage of her profit."

"The books are fixed. She never puts down all she makes." Letty said taking a sip of her passion fruit juice. "Ahh this is amazing!"

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Dom said with a smile as he head to the garage. Unfortunately for his wife, Letty found her head in the toilet about twenty minutes later.

"Well there is no denying it now." She told herself quietly. "I'm definitely pregnant."

"Babe, are you okay in there?" Dom asked having heard Letty stampede her way inside their bathroom in his search for his tool box.

"I'll be alright. It's nothing to worry about." She called out. It had been the third time that day she found herself kneeling against a toilet; a symptom she had displayed with all three pregnancies before.

"Are you puking?"

"No", Letty lied. "It's coming out the other end."

"There is officially no more mystery in this marriage. You want me to go get some Pepto-Bismol?"

"Okay", was all she could muster while she wiped her mouth clean. Dom came back to find a queasy Letty in bed.

"My poor baby", he teased with his daughter trailing by his side.

"Hush", she pressed.

"Mami, why are you sick?" Mazda asked coming up behind her father.

"I don't know sweetie." She lied again.

"Do you think you'll get better by tomorrow? You need to be ready for the sleepover."

"I'll try my hardest."

"Mazda if she can't do it then I will." Dom offered his young daughter.

"Papi no, it's a girl only sleepover. No dads allowed."

"May I ask why?"

"Because we're going to talk about girl stuff, and do girl things."

"I can do girl things." Dom protested.

"Nu uh", Mazda said shaking her head vigorously. "You're too manly."

"I never thought I'd ever be offended about being called too manly. But you know what? I am." He said causing Letty to laugh.

"I'm sorry Dom it's one of those things." She told him.

"I'm sure you can find something to do with Lexi or Jenny Papi." The little girl said condescendingly patting her father on the arm with a shrug.

"Excuse you?"

"What?"

"You think you can tell me what to do?" He said picking Mazda up.

"Ye-, I mean noo", the nine year old corrected.

"Listen here little miss. I can do whatever I want when I want because this is my house. If you're not careful, I'll throw you in the oven and cook you." He teased.

"Papi no! You can't eat me!"

"Wanna bet"

"But you love me" she said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"You got me there."

"When I have my house can I do whatever I want?"

"No"

"Why not"

"Because"

"Because why"

"Because"

"I don't think that's very fair Papi", Mazda voiced in her most adult voice.

"Well baby life isn't fair."

"I can't with you two."

"What?" Mazda asked genuinely.

"Come on Mazdi. We gotta let Mami rest for your sleepover tomorrow."

"Mami, get a thousand times better." The young girl wished.

"I'll try baby."

"Give her a kiss." Dom told her leaning his daughter down.

"Muah"

"Muah", Letty said with a giggle as they left the room. Dom went down the stairs and found his middle child playing with his PlayStation console on the couch.

"Jensen you're going to have a roommate tonight." He announced placing Mazda beside him.

"What? Why?" The teenage boy complained.

"Because your mother is sick so that means Mazda can't stay with us."

"Isn't she getting too old for this? She's nine. She has her own room."

"If I remember correctly, you still needed a night light at twelve. That was only three years ago."

"But she's evil! Evil thrives in darkness." Jensen argued.

"No, I'm not!" Mazda voiced.

"She's crafty." Dom suggested as a better choice of words.

"She hacked into my phone and texted all my friends that I watch OMG."

"You do do that." Dom pointed out to his son.

"People don't have to know."

"What's the problem Vanessa's on that show. We all watch it."

"It's a kid show! Do you know how uncool that is?"

"That was two months ago, and we talked about it. Didn't we Mazda?"

"I'm not going to do it again. I pinky swear."

"That means nothing to me. It's definitely not going give me Jisnelle back."

"Other girls will come along", Dom dismissed.

"Yeah right, not when you're a brace face"

"Come on man, it's only for one more year. You're going to have perfect teeth. Just look at your brother." Dom said ruffling his hair.

"Whatever, he's always been your golden boy."

"He was funny look before the growth spurt. Admit it." Jensen sucked his teeth in annoyance. He had been struggling with growing pains the last few months. "You're going through some awkward teenage years. Everyone goes through it. I used to be real skinny when I was your age. None of the girls wanted me since I have this funny looking head."

"Weren't you a football player tho?"

"Eventually, but you know what?"

"What?"

"Personality trumps everything. God knows you have a lot of it."

"You're supposed to say that."

"I'm being honest. People loved being around me even though I looked a little funny and my voice was constantly breaking."

"I don't believe you."

"You can ask your grandfather to show you pictures. You will fill out soon enough. Puberty is just hard, but when the time is right you'll be on top of the world."

"Sure I will", Jensen said sarcastically rolling his eyes.

"I bet in a years time you're going to look completely different, and you'll owe me some cash for losing."

"I'll take that bet."

"It's never smart to bet against yourself Jensen."

"I always know I'm going to win." Mazda chimed in.

"Who asked you?"

"How rude!" The young girl gasped.

"Apologize to her."

"For what?"

"Apologize to her." Dom said smacking his son upside the head.

"Alright already, I'm sorry."

"I don't think I believe you. Make it more convincing."

"Don't push it." Dom warned his daughter before turning on the television and enjoying a cold brew. Later that night with Mazda snug beside her brother's side, Dom decided it was time to turn in.

"How are you feeling?" He asked Letty as he got under the covers.

"Much better now that Mazda has given me my tenth 'get better mami' kiss of the night.

"That girl is a trip." He said putting his arm around Letty while she adjusted her head into the nook in between his neck and shoulder. "She really wants that slumber party."

"She'll get it. I'm fine. It must have been a stomach bug."

"I'm sure she'll be thrilled." He smiled to himself. "I was thinking about what that reporter asked you."

"About what?"

"More kids"

"Oh right, what were you thinking?" Letty asked suddenly feeling like her heart was about to escape her chest.

"For the first time, I think I'm willing to get the snip."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure. Nothing seems to be changing our minds. Why not do it? It's the easier way."

"You always said you wanted as many as you could make."

"That was when we only had one. Seeing Lex go to college, and Jensen now being a Freshman in high school has made me see that you were right. It makes sense."

"Would another one be so bad?" She questioned.

"We don't have the time Let. The three we got always need something and a baby would make it so difficult to be there for them. I can't even imagine myself staying up all night and changing diapers. It's like starting all over. I'm almost forty. I think I'm just getting tired."

Letty swallowed hard. "Well that's new. When I first brought it up, you were against it."

"Yes, but now that I've had a while to think about it, I'm coming around."

"So no more kids?"

"Are you okay with that?" He asked.

"Of course", Letty fibbed for the fifth time that day. The direction of the conversation was scaring her. She had no idea how to tell him the truth. For the first time since she had known him, her husband voiced not wanting any more children.

"Now you don't have to go through the birth control roller coaster we've had this year."

"My body has rejected nearly everything. I don't know what's going on."

"It must be a sign. Sex has never been this stressful. I'm tired of pulling out."

"Ahh that's what got you." Letty teased momentarily. "I thought you were going to spit out another 'I'm a man!' speech."

"Pulling out sucks. No man likes that. I rather not have swimmers than not have a pool." Dom admitted. "Especially since we always end up doing it in random places." Letty nodded fondly. They seldom made love in their bedroom because Mazda would find her way into their room at all hours of the night. She had on several occasions walked in on them mid-sex, but had not realized it in her sleepy state.

"Maybe it is the practical thing to do."

"We're so busy too."

"I know."

"I'll make an appointment with Doctor Rooney. Are you okay with that?" He asked for what seemed like permission.

"It's your penis." She shrugged.

"It's yours too." Letty let out a small chuckle.

"I guess you're right. I support whatever you want to do."

"Alright it's done." Dom said as he massaged Letty's scalp against his chest. She attempted to drift off to sleep, but found it difficult. The fate of their life with this new baby was now in question.

This chapter is more context because there are so many characters in this world of mine. The next chapter is when we'll see the reveal to Dom and kiddos.