Guys,

It's been so long. I know. I'm so sorry, but when life kicks you in the ass it really gets in there. It's my spring break right now and I've been slowly getting back into writing and this is the result. Please let me know what you think about this chapters and your predictions for Dom and Katie. I'm hoping to upload a chapter a week so lets start with that. I wanted to show some background for how Dom and Katie meet and how their relationship progressed so stay tuned for a couple flashbacks throughout this story. Once again, I am so sorry it's been so long!

Love you all!

~ Hanna

Katie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, holding it in for a brief moment before slowing parting her lips and releasing the air. The bathroom tile was cool beneath her legs as she sat with her back against the locked door. She could hear Mia's movements below her, but she just couldn't bring herself to return to the real world yet. Her body was numb; her gaze locked on the small white stick that was sitting on the floor in front of her.

The distinct sound of little footsteps brought Katie out of her daze, dragging her back to reality kicking and screaming. The footsteps grew louder and louder until she heard the door to the her bedroom open. Katie cleared her throat and stood quickly, grabbing the test and throwing it into the trash before moving over to the sink. Incessant knocking started as Katie ran her fingers through her hair, rubbing her eyes in an effort to lesson the puffiness. "Aunt Katie, are you in there? It's me, Jack."

Katie smiled sadly and laughed, shaking her head. She pursed her lips, drying her hands before unlocking the door. It swung open and Katie was barely able to catch the little boy as he flung himself into her arms. She laughed, raising him up and positioning him on her hip. "Hey, buddy. What are you doing?"

"Looking for you." He responded, wrapping his arms around her neck. "Mama said lunch is almost done." Katie smiled and bushed the few hairs away from his eyes, pinching his cheek playfully. She hiked him higher on her hip and made her way downstairs. She heard Mia moving around the kitchen and smiled, setting Jack down in the living room with his toys before heading towards the kitchen.

Katie hopped up on the counter, watching Mia move around effortlessly as she finished up lunch. "You can never move out." Katie stated. "I can barley throw tog and Dom's cooking experience ends with a grill." Mia laughed, glancing over her shoulder towards Katie. Her smile immediately dropped as she took in Katie's appearance. She moved over to her and touched her face, taking in her puffy eyes.

Mia's eyes softened. "What happened?"

Katie could feel the emotions crawling back up her throat and tried to laugh them off. "You know, everyone keeps telling me I shouldn't give up hope. That it's going happen and I just have to be patient. Mia, it's coming up on three years. I don't have anymore patience." Katie shook her head, whipping away the wetness that had collected under her eyes. "I've been thinking a lot lately. All that time I said I never wanted to be a mom, that I just wasn't made for it, maybe this is a sign that I was right."

"Katie, it doesn't work like that." Mia breathed, shaking her head.

Katie laughed slightly, taking a deep breath. "I know." She nodded, swallowing hard. "I'm just happy I'm going to be an aunt again." Her eyes fell to Mia's flat stomach and she smiled. "Good things come to those who wait. That's how it goes right?"

Mia smiled, nodding her head as footsteps came in through the living room. Katie glanced over, catching sight of Letty in the doorway. "Hey, you ready?" She asked, raising her eyebrow.

Mia frowned, looking towards Katie. "Where are you guys going?" She questioned, moving over to the sink and running her hands under the water.

Letty shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know." She replied, pinning Katie with a frustrated look. "She won't enlighten me and I am kinda scared."

Katie smirked, shaking her head at her comment. "Good things come to those who wait." She said, hopping off the counter and moving towards Letty. "Trust me, you're going to like it." Katie patted Letty' shoulder as she passed her, walking into the living room and kissing Jacks forehead before heading towards the door.

Letty followed Katie outside and threw her the keys, slipping into the passenger seat. "When are you going to let me drive?" She asked, raising her eyebrow.

Katie laughed, climbing into the drivers seat and starting the car. Relishing in the buzz being behind the wheel always brought her. "Soon. I promise. You can pick the music though." She stated with a smile. "Compromises." Katie shrugged, pulling out onto the road. "Buckle up. We got a long drive ahead."

An hour passed before Letty brought up their destination again. She turned towards Katie, pinning her down with a look. Katie smiled slightly and flexed her fingers against the steering wheel, gazing out the window at the barren desert that now surround them. "You know, Dom has this saying. He says that an open road helps you think. About the where you've been, where you're going." Katie glanced over at Letty and sighed. "So, you don't remember any of this yet?"

Letty scoffed, frustration clear in her voice. "You know I don't." She replied. Katie pursed her lips and nodded, taking a deep breath. She could remember every single time the two of them made this journey together. It was hard to understand how every memory she had with Letty was now one sided. It's been three years and even though they've all created new memories with her she still finds herself missing the old Letty. She is living proof of just how the complex the brain is. Letty took a breath and turned her body towards Katie. "So, what is it exactly that you're trying to show me?"

We came up over the hill and I smirked, nodding ahead of us. "That." I stated, gripping the steering wheel tighter as the excitement coursed through my body. I'd waited this long to take Letty here because she was still a little jumpy around large groups of people, but over the last year she had been making monumental improvement and I, after talking it through with Dom, decided that this was the next logical step.

As we came up over the hill Race Wars came into view. A multitude of colors and tents spanned the horizon and the sighed caused my heart to flutter. Katie knew she'd never grow tried of the view in front of her and hoped that after today Letty would feel the same. "Race Wars." She stated, smirking over at Letty who raised her eyebrow.

"We used to come here?"

Katie smiled, shaking her head. "Come here?" She questioned rhetorically. "Dom invented it. This is where our epic love story began." Katie stared ahead of here with wistful expression.

Katie gently ran her tongue over the cut on her bottom lip, flinching slightly as pain radiated from the split. She closed her eyes and leaned against her car, taking in a deep breath as she focused on blocking out the noise around her. She knows that coming here was practically signing her death sentence or at least a hospital entry form, but she couldn't pass up the money that she'd get when she won her next race.

She caught sight of Hector and his buddies dancing with some barely dressed girls and decided staying near him would be her safest bet. She pushed her way through the crowd, her eyes set on her target. She didn't even notice her personal shoulder sized devil emerge from a large group of people until she almost rammed into him. "Jonny." She breathed, swallowed hard as she shoved her fear under a heap of false confidence. "What's going on?" She asked, trying to act calm and collected.

Jonny smirked, shaking his head at her antics. She realized she wasn't as good of an actor that she hoped to be. "You had your fun Katherine." Jonny stated. "It's been four days, it's time you get your ass back to the house." He reached out and touched her lip, his smirk still present across his lips. "I would hate to have to teach you another lesson." He leaned down to her, his hot breath touching her ear.

Katie pulled herself away from him. She tried to step back, but was met with another hard chest. She sighed and closed her eyes, knowing exactly who was behind her. "Hello Katherine." Lance nodded, pushing her back towards Jonny. Katie suddenly felt anger course through her, but it wasn't directed at Jonny. It was at her. How could she let herself it caught up in another situation like this. Her life was suppose to change once she escaped her father, but it was like she was caught in a deadly cycle.

After looking for Brian for the three months she was beginning to run low on hope and currency. She was scared and even contemplated going back, but instead she did something stupider. She thought she was smart enough to steal from Jonny Tran. The term young and reckless come to mind when she thinks of that decision. To her surprise, when she was caught red handed, Jonny didn't hurt her. Instead he told her that everyone makes mistakes. He fed her and housed her. She was young and impressionable and saw him as her savior at first. About two and a half months into their relationship the real Jonny made his appearance. For the next year she dealt with his violent mood swings and harsh words, mostly because she was terrified of being on her own again. It wasn't until five days ago that the final thread within her snapped. He'd slapped her. He'd put his hands on her because she refused sex. She gathered her things, careful to exclude the things he'd bought for her, and left the next morning while he was out.

"I ain't going back with you Jonny." She said, finding her strength. "I'm done. You put your hands on me you son of a bitch." She opened her mouth to speak more, but wisely decided against that idea. Jonny smiled widely before his eyes turned cold and he thrust his hand out, grasping her neck and dragging her back behind one of the bathroom buildings. She struggled and tried to scream, but there was so many people and the noise had reached a new level that made her struggle practically pointless. She resorted to begging. "Please, don't. Jonny, please."

He threw her against the wall and held her there by her throat. "You think you have a say? You think you can talk back to me; disrespect me?" With every question his grip got tighter and my ability to intake air grew smaller. "I own you and you will do what ever I want because…"

"Because what?" A gruff voice asked suddenly, coming out of nowhere. Katie still struggled for air, but was able to loosen his grip a little. Her noticed how Jonny grew even more tense at the voice, his eyes flashing over at Lance briefly before shaking head.

"This ain't your business Torretto." Jonny stated, not bothering to turn his head. He was silently telling Katie to keep her mouth shut. "My girl and I are just figuring something out, no need for you and your marry band of misfits."

Katie had heard stories about Dominic Torretto and she craned her neck to try and see what he looked like, but Jonny blocked her view. "Let the woman go." Dom stated calmly, but his voice was filled with authority. Jonny growled and pushed away from Katie, his eyes heated. Dominic's eyes found her's and he nodded at her. "Do you want to be here?" He asked and she shook her head, touching her neck. "Come on."

Katie swallowed and walked passed Jonny, coming to a stop by Dom and the group of people that surrounded him. Her eyes project her thanks to him and he nodded. "You got to stop sticking your nose where it don't belong Torretto."

"I'll stop when you stop putting your hands on innocent girls." Dom replied, gently taking Katie's arm and turning away from Jonny, leading her with him.

Jonny laughed behind them, calling after them. "She's anything but innocent. You can have her. Watch you wallet, though." Katie cringed and glanced up at Dom, but he didn't show that he even heard Jonny comment.

Once they were far enough away, Katie stopped turning towards Dom. "Thank you. I think you guys just saved my life." She said, letting out a nervous chuckle. "I'm Katie."

Dom nodded. "Dominic Torretto." He introduced before pointing at the men standing behind him. "Vince, Leon and Jesse."

Katie smiled and thanked the three men before returning her gaze to Dom. "I'm not with him anymore. Jonny isn't the kind of man that recognizes the word no." She looked down at the ground and cleared her throat. "Anyway. Thanks. I'll have to find some way of repaying you."

Dom chucked and moved his gaze over towards the street where the next race was being set up. "I got a couple ideas." He stated. "You and me. Loser pays for dinner."

Katie felt the unease roll off her and she laughed, shaking her head. "I don't think you know what you're getting into, Dom, but okay." She watched as Dom turned his head, signaling to Hector to set up the race. He turned back towards her and smirked slightly.

"It's weird that you just saved me and now I'm going to beat your ass and publicly humiliate you in front of all you racer buddies." Katie smirked as she started towards her car.

"Whether I win or lose, the outcome doesn't seem so bad." Dom called after her before turning and heading towards his own challenger.

Thanks for sticking with me!

Ride or Die Guys :)