A/N: ok just a few quick things before we get started. First when it comes to cars I really don't know much past the basics so I am looking online for ALL of my technical car terms so if anything is wrong I'm sorry but I really am trying. Also I will be using several languages throughout this story. All single word translations will be at the begining of the chapter with what language it's in but if it's a conversation I will have all translations right after the sentence. Again I am using the internet so I apologies if any of these are wrong. Third all chapters will be from either Letty or Dom's PoVs I'm sorry if it switches a lot but I am trying to get both of their thoughts without repeating too much and also since I am a girl though I will try my best, Dom may not sound like a guy's mind because I'm not a guy. Fourth I have searched through all movies and the entire internet and cannot find Mr. Toretto's first name so I will use what is used in most fanfics unless I can find differently. Also this is a COMPLETELY original FanFic. The only things not from my mind are the characters and scenes from the movies. Ok so I think that's it so here we go and I promise that there will be no more rambling A/N's at the beginning of chapters…Possibly at the ends lol.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the information from the movies; I do however own the plot lines not from the movie and all OC's.
Translations:
El (joder) bastardo: the (fucking) bastard-Spanish
Tesoruccio: cute little treasure-Italian
Mi Abuelita: My grandma - Spanish
La Familia: the family- Spanish
Chapter 1: Meeting
Letty's PoV
I couldn't stand it anymore, the arguing that is. My Mom and Dad, sorry make that Step-dad, El joder bastardo, always argued. Mom and Daddy never argued when he was alive, then again Mom didn't drink before Daddy died either. No she started to drink after she stopped crying, she started crying the moment the two men in suits came to the door, holding their hats, a flag and Daddy's tags, and stopped five days later, only 24 hours after we had buried him. That was three years ago though and things had changed drastically. No Mom and Daddy never argued, but Mom and Benicio argued about everything. They argued about the weather, or who took the last shot of whiskey, or the last pack of smokes. They argued so much that my older sister, Maria, had run away only three months ago, mi abuelita Ortiz, my Dad's mom, called saying she was there. I had thought about going there too but knew unlike my sister who she adored I would be sent back to my mother's.
So tonight I did what I did every other time I couldn't stand their arguing any more, I headed to the park for a few days. Three days to be exact, just long enough for things to cool off, just long enough for him to stop beating her, but not long enough for either of them to notice I was gone. I pulled the overstuffed, worn military backpack from under my bed, still fully packed from my last encounter to the park. I opened the zipper to pull out my father's old sweat shirt pulling it over my shoulders the sleeves rolled up so my hand peeked out. The sweatshirt was a soft grey that had started out black, and hung to my knees. I pulled the hood over my head tying it tight before sliding the backpack on.
I walked across my small room to the window. Quickly I slid the glass up before popping out the screen and setting it under my bed. I slid out of the window onto the roof of our porch. I slid the window back down before silently making my way toward the edge of the roof. Sitting on the edge I hung my feet over the edge and turned so I was on my stomach. Slowly I shimmied my way off the roof till I was hanging on to the edge by just my fingertips, and my toes just barley touching the railing of the porch. Breathing out I let go of the roof and caught my balance on the porch rail, my arms out stretched. I walked over to the corner and jumped down onto the lawn. Just as my feet hit the ground I heard the front door open, and dived into the bushes that lined the porch.
"I PAY FOR EVERYTHING IN THIS FUCKING HOUSE YOU STUPID WHORE!" I could hear the bastard's words slur with alcohol as he screamed at my mother. "MAYBE I'LL JUST LEAVE YOU AND THAT PERRA OF YOURS AND WE CAN SEE HOW WELL YOU DO."
I heard the door open again and my mother came stumbling out. "Please baby... please I'm sorry you're right I...I'm sorry it won't happen again baby don't leave us we need you…I need you." The sound of my mother groveling made me sick to my stomach, but not nearly as sick as the sound of flesh against flesh as he hit her. I stayed in my hiding place shaking with anger, I just couldn't understand how my mother could allow the abuse from that asshole. With my father she was cherished and he would never have raised a hand to her. Armando Ortiz had been raised to respect his wife and take care of his family, sadly he had also been raised to serve his country and we had lost him to it. Once I heard them go back inside I moved out from my hiding place and started toward the park. Just as I made it to the side walk I heard a loud crash of thunder making me bite back a yelp before forcing myself to keep moving. The sky opened to allow the rain to start, I tightened the hood and started running toward the park hoping I could make it the three blocks to the park before I was completely drenched through and the storm was right on top of me.
I was about a block away, making a mad dash across the street, when suddenly my body was enclosed in light and I heard the squeal of tires on the wet cement. I dove for the curb and felt my body land with a soft thud. I sent up a silent prayer of thanks that I had landed on my back, thus onto the back pack which was stuffed with four blankets and two pillows plus three outfits. A loud crash of thunder shook the ground making me let out a small squeal. I huddled into my sweatshirt as two car doors closed and I heard the sound of feet slapping wet pavement as both driver and passenger came running toward me.
"Are you OK " A male voice asked from above me. Surprisingly the low voice was soft and sounded almost concerned. It reminded me of my father's. I looked up to see two large figures looming over me.
Dom's PoV
I sat staring out the windshield, disappointment still washing over me from the cancellation of the races. My father was next to me easily steering the '70s Charger around the corner, when suddenly a small dark figure darted out in front of us. Dad slammed on the brakes, the tires squealing in protest against the wet cement and the small figure disappeared. As the car skidded to a stop me and dad jumped from the car and ran to the curb where the figure was huddled into itself, barley moving.
"Are you OK " dad asked. In the light from the car I could see a small dark face lift up to look at us. Her hair, and yes it was a her, clung to her face as did the hood which was soaked through. Her eyes were wide and reminded me of oil, a color so dark you thought it was black but around the edges you could see almost a honey brown.
"Y-yes I-I'm fine." She stuttered out sitting up. That when I noticed the large back pack that she carried. The back was about half the size that she was and even though she couldn't have been more than 12 she looked as though she was running away.
"What's your name?" my father asked squatting down next to the girl. As I watched her I could help but feel as if I had seen her before but I couldn't place where.
"Leticia Camilia Ortiz." She answered with great pride, "but everyone just calls me Letty."
"Well Letty, Where are you going out here by yourself this late at night in this weather?" Dad asked her softly, and I had a feeling that this was drowned rat of a girl would end up coming home with us.
"T-the park." She answered quietly shrinking into herself even more.
"At this time of night? Where are your parents?"
"My father died two years ago." She said I could see the fracture of pain clear in her eyes.
"I'm sorry to hear that. But where is your mother?"
A small scowl appeared on the small girls face, "At home with el bastardo Bencio, groveling after he smacks her around some." I was surprised at the language that came from such a small girl and filled with such hatred.
"I see, well why don't you come home with me and my son, I have a daughter about your age and I'm sure you could stay in her room." My father said confirming my earlier thought, and I knew in that moment that my life was going to change forever.
Letty's PoV
"I see, well why don't you come home with me and my son, I have a daughter about your age and I'm sure you could stay in her room." The man with the gentle eyes asked standing back up and offering me his hand.
Slowly I reached up and took his hand letting him pull me to my feet normally I would turn and run to continue my path but something inside me told me to trust him and to go with him. As I followed him to the car I could see the sleek body and protruding motor even in the dark. I would watch this exact '70s Charger zoom down the street everyday on my way to school. The boy who climbed into the passenger seat was Dominic Toretto, he was in the 8th grade. The daughter that the man was talking about was three years younger than me and in the 3rd grade. Her name was Mia and she was the only 3rd grader or truthfully the only one in the school who didn't have to worry about Johnny Tran and his friends. How I envied her safety the last three years. I slid in through the passenger seat into the middle between Dom and his father, clinging my back pack into my chest. The drive to casa Toretto was short and went past my house. All the lights were out signaling to me that my mother and el bastardo had gone to bed.
We pulled up outside of the family's house. On the porch there was a light turned on and there was a soft glow emanated from the large front window. For some unknown reason those two lights made me feel more at home than anything from the past three years of my life. Both Dominic and his father slid from the car, Mr. Toretto offering his hand to help me from the car. As I slid from the car Dominic walked toward the house but stopped at the corner of the car waiting for us. I waited as Mr. Toretto closed the door of the Charger before following him up the steps of the porch with Dominic bringing up the rear. As I reached the top of the steps, I heard the door open. A young girl, about 13, only two years older than me, stepped out of the house with Mia following.
"Back already Mr. Toretto?" the unknown blond asked, but her eyes kept flicking past me to Dominic.
"Yeah the track got rained out. Thanks for staying with Mia, Becky I really do appreciate it."
"No problem Sir, Mia's never a problem."
"Do you need a ride home?"
"No, its right down the street, I can walk, but thanks."
"Well… if you're sure, Dom why don't you walk Becky home."
"Yes Sir." Dominic didn't seem like he minded walking in the pouring rain and from the look on his face you could tell why. My guess was that this was not the first time Dominic had "walked" Becky home.
"We'll see you next Friday Becky." Mr. Toretto said before handing her a $20 bill and swinging Mia onto his back.
"Daddy, when can I go to the races with you and Dom?"
"When you're older my Tesoruccio." Mr. Toretto laughed. "But for now I need you to help Letty to get settled." He said opening the door and waving me inside. From the Porch I walked into the living room with a set of stairs.
"Hi, I'm Mia, I'm guessing you're Letty, come on I'll show you my room. You'll be staying there with me." Before I knew what was happening I was being dragged up the stairs by the rambling 8 year old. There were three bedrooms, one at the top of the stairs and two too the right of the stairs. At the end of the hallway to the left was a bathroom. "This is Daddy's room. " Mia said gesturing to the room at the top of the stairs. "And this is Dom's room, we aren't allowed in there under any circumstance." This was the room to the immediate right of the stairs. "And this is my room; well I guess it's our room now."
"Don't worry I won't be staying long." I said both to reassure the eight year old and because I knew it was true.
"Why? You don't have to leave. I've always wanted a sister. I mean I hate being the only girl in a house with three guys most of the time. Especially because Vince and Dom never play Barbie's with me and never let me go to the park with them. Oh please please stay with us."
Looking into her large brown eyes I didn't know what to do so I said, "Let's see what happens."
"OK well where do you want to sleep? I can go ask daddy for some blankets."
"It's OK I have some." I said quickly looking around the room for the first time. To my left was a large Doll house with an over flowing toy box. To my right was a dresser with a desk in the corner. Then there was her bed. It was on a pink frame covered in pink with cute stuffed animals everywhere. "I think I'll crash over here." I said walking over to the wall on the other side of her bed. Growing up I had learned that the best places to sleep were small closed spaces where people couldn't see you.
"Are you sure? I can move some stuff so you have more room."
"No that's OK." I said quickly before adding, "But thanks anyway."
"GIRLS FOODS READY!" I jumped slightly as Mr. Toretto yelled up the stairs.
"Come on Daddy made chili." Mia exclaimed grabbing my hand and dragging me back down the stairs.
"I – I – I'm not that hungry." I lied not wanting to push my luck with the kind family up the street.
"Please try some, you'll love it, I promise."
Dom's PoV
As I walked back to my house, the taste of Becky still on my lips, I saw a form huddled on a porch a few doors away.
"V that you?" I asked climbing the stairs.
"Yeah" I could hear the pain in his voice and knew his mom must have had an episode.
"Come on Dude, dad made chili, you can crash in my room tonight."
"Thanks man" the rest of the walk to the house was silent but comfortable. Me and Vince had known each other for six years when my mom had taken off on us. He was the only kid at school who didn't ask or tease; he just sat next to me every day for a week till I finally introduced myself. Then about a year later his dad ditched him and his mom and his mom started drinking. Whenever she ran out of money for the booze she would take it out on her son. And that's when I started bringing Vince home and he became part of la familia. Now though it seemed dad had found another lost soul to add to join the Torettos. I just didn't know if she was going to change everything for the better or for the worse. "Figured I should tell you, dad brought home another stray, she's staying in Mia's room."
"Is she hot?" Vince asked face lighting up.
"She's like 11." I said.
"Damn another annoying brat." Vince said with a scowl, "hey maybe she can keep Mia busy for us."
"Yeah, come on dude, I'm starved." I said opening the door, "dad, can V crash here tonight?" I asked as we kicked our shoes off.
"You know he can, now you two get in here, foods getting cold, and Vince you can say grace."
"Yes sir"
We both ran into the kitchen. My dad sat at the head of the table, my sister to his right and Letty next to her. Vince slid into the chair across form Mia and next to my dad. I slid into the last open chair, across from the small Latina. Quickly we all linked hands and I reached across the table. As she hesitantly placed her hand in mine I felt has if I was holding the most fragile butterfly.
Letty's PoV
When he took my hand in his, my breath froze. It was warm and firm, yet rough with callouses.
"Dear Lord, thank you for this food and this family. Amen" the boy called Vince said.
"Amen" was followed by everyone else.
I waited for everyone else to fill their bowl from the large pot before poring a single ladle full into my bowl. Before I could protest Mia set a piece of cornbread next to my bowl..
"Alright everyone dig in." Mr. Toretto said.
As I slowly ate the best chili I had ever had I listened as Dom and Vince talked about different girls at school and as Mia and her dad talked about school; then as Vince and Mia quarreled like me and my sister did before she left, and Dom and his father discussed parts for Dom's car that they were rebuilding. They had found a 1980's Mustang in a Junk yard. From what I had gathered from the conversation they were working on the motor before starting on the body.
"Dad, it was t-boned before rolling, it wasn't head on we can't find anything wrong with the engine, I just can't seem to find a reason why it shouldn't be firing." Dom said in aggravation.
"Have you checked the Distributor Cap?" I asked before realizing that I had ever opened my mouth to speak. I could feel my face grow warm as everyone stared at me.
"No I didn't thin….wait you know cars?"
A/N: Next Chapter will be Posted after 5 Reviews.