Disclaimer: I own nothing from the TFATF movies. I am in no way making a profit from this, though I wish I were. This is merely for reading entertainment, if that.
Summary: Single dad Deacon Cruz is struggling to raise his five year old daughter. The only way he knows how to make enough money to support them is on the blacktop. What'll happen when he meets Mia? How will she take learning about his daughter? What will happen when Brian returns? READ & REVIEW!!!
A/N: This is totally a Mia/OFC fic. I don't like her and Brian together much, call me un-American. If you don't like it, don't read it. Simple. Here it is...
Deacon Cruz, you have been granted custody of nine month-old Emmanuelle Cruz. The mother will not be allowed visitation rights until she has completed a drug rehabilitation program and three years of probation. Case closed.
Deacon sat up quickly in his sleep, his breathing unstable. Sweating profusely, he ran his strong hands over his dark hair. He looked to his left, rubbing his thumb over his girl's cheek. Laying back down, Deacon couldn't stop the thoughts running through his mind. Why are you still haunting me? Deacon whispered to himself, turning over to curl up to the girl next to him. Placing a soft kiss on her forehead, he succumbed to his slumber.
"Daddy, wake up!" Emmanuelle jumped up and down on the queen-sized bed, a rift of giggles escaping as she landed on her back.
"What'd I tell you about jumping in the bed?" Deacon muttered, opening his blue eyes. His daughters eyes were exact replicas of his, only a lighter blue.
"Sorry Daddy," she replied, lowering her head in shame. Deacon's thin lips curled into a smile as he put his index finger under her chin, lifting her face to his.
"Happy birthday Emma!" he cheered, beginning a tickle attack on her. She shrieked with laughter, trying to fight off her father's frantic hands. Once he'd stopped, her breathing was heavy and choppy. She stood on the bed, wrapping her arms around her daddy's neck and legs around his torso. He stood from the bed, piggybacking her out the room and into the kitchen.
"Where's my present?" Emma asked, crawling up on the stool in the kitchen. Deacon pulled out two bowls and two spoons for them.
"What makes you think I got you something?" Deacon smirked, pouring cereal into both bowls.
"'Cos you always get me something. Is it in my room?" she asked, her eyebrows touching her hairline. Deacon only shrugged, sitting her cereal bowl in front of her. Her eyebrow formed a thin line across her forehead as she jumped off the stool, running down the hall to her room. He watched the tiny girl as her curly, light brown locks bounced behind her.
"That kid is too smart sometimes," he mumbled, shoveling the breakfast into his mouth. Seconds later, a screeching yell could be heard from down the hallway.
"Daddy, this is awesome!" the now five year-old screamed, causing Deacon to shake his head. Where did she pick up her vocabulary? he thought to himself. Emma ran back into the kitchen, carrying her present in hand.
It was a new electric RC car, a '69 Chevy Camaro. The body was yellow with black racing stripes. Every year since Deacon noticed how into cars his young girl was, he bought her a remote control car. On her second birthday, he bought her a Kyosho Mini-Z Mustang GT RC car. Her last birthday, she received an electric Dukes of Hazzard General Lee RC car. That was her favorite one.
She wasn't into Barbies or anything girlie like normal five year old girls were. She loved things that went fast; whether it was a car, a bike, or truck. Maybe it was because considering Deacon couldn't afford a babysitter, he had been taking her to work with him since she was old enough to talk. That's where she picked up her vocabulary, he recalled.
Deacon worked at a local auto mechanic shop just a few miles from their apartment complex. He worked there since before Emma was born, making her an honorary member of their grease-monkey family. The boys around the shop loved her, allowing her to work on cars with them. She picked up more at the age of five them most men ever would.
"So you like it?" Deacon asked, watching her pull it out the box. She looked at her Dad and shook her head, showing off her deep dimples as she smiled. "Eat your breakfast. We gotta get showered and got to work," he said, placing his bowl in the sink.
"Hey Mia," Leon waved to Mia, who only threw him a wave and fake smile. The Team was at the store on lunch break, Dom manning the register.
"She's still upset over the Buster," Dom whispered, not wanting another bitching out from his baby sister.
It had been three years since that nearly fateful day. Since the day they almost lost everything. The man Mia had loved for almost a year betrayed her and her family. Sure, he got them out of trouble and cleared their records, but he still betrayed them. He left without such much as a goodbye. He didn't try to write. Even though he told her everything he ever said he felt for her was real, Mia was beginning to question just how long he had been lying to her.
After that horrific day, the Team fled. Soon after Brian gave up his keys, Dom met Leon and Letty at the border. He sent Leon back for Mia, took Letty, and fled. Vince and Jesse both survived the physical battles they fought for months. Vince was left with a nice scar around his forearm, but retrieved full use in his right arm. Jesse was scarred more mentally than physically. He hated being in enclosed areas, which was the reason he stayed away from the racing scene. The slightest things sent him into panic attacks and his A.D.D. seemed to kick in double-time.
In some way, they were all left bruised and battered from that day. Unfortunately, Mia was suffering from a broken heart and was beginning to change all in all. She was no longer that loving, motherly figure they all loved. She was bitchy and messy. She had become forgetful and she was slacking on her school work. Dominic knew it was all because of Brian, and that there wasn't anything he could do. He even went out of his way to try to hook her up with a few of his racer buddies. He knew it'd do no good, but he wanted her out of her funk.
"Have you found anything about O'Connor yet?" Dom whispered to Jesse, who sat next to Leon re-painting his fingernails black.
"Can't find the bastard anywhere Dominic. It's like he just fell off the face of the Earth," Jesse replied, sticking the polish in his back pocket.
"We're gonna find him, kick his ass, then try to get him back with her. I can't keep seeing her like this," Dom said, glancing back at his sister with sad eyes.
"How ya livin' girl?" Letty asked Mia, taking a seat next to her behind the cage in the store. Mia was studying -- more like staring -- in her nursing textbook from college.
"Why do you always ask me that? Why not, 'how are you Mia?' or 'how are things Mia?'" Mia questioned, her voice more icy than she intended.
"Woah. What the hell was that Mia? Look, I know you're upset over the Snowman, but don't take it out on me!" Letty snapped, tired of turning the other cheek at Mia's attitude.
"I'm sorry Let. I didn't mean it. I'm just a little stressed is all, How's the Jetta coming along?" Mia asked, hoping to get the attention off her.
"Everything's good with it. Just have to redo the paint job, then it'll be all done," Letty replied. "You miss the Snowman, don't you?"
"Am I that obvious?" Mia asked, slamming her textbook shut. " I can't stop thinking about him. A part of me hates his guts and wouldn't give two shits about seeing him again. The other part misses him like hell and wishes he'd just come back. I don't know what to do Let," Mia finally broke down, dropping her head on the table with a loud thud. Letty winced at the sound, but Mia didn't flinch at all.
"I know exactly what you need..." Letty couldn't help but feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Mia lifted her head to face her.
"I know that look. And no, I'm not doing that. We just got out of hot water, you can't possibly be thinking of going back," Mia asked in bewilderment.
"Oh come on Mi. Our records are clear. It's been over three years. That's what you need. And guess what... tonight's the night."
After parking his car, a black '00 Honda Civic Hatchback, he and Emma climbed out. Being greeted with the heavy smell of oil and barbecue, Deacon lifted Emma into the air, speeding up their pace to the shop. Following the scent to the back of the shop, the two were surprised by five neatly dressed men surrounding a table, which held presents and a large cake.
"Happy birthday Emma!" they all said simultaneously. Deacon smiled at Emma, who had her hands covering her mouth. The boys had gone out of their way to throw her a surprise party, and that warmed Deacon's heart.
"You boys seize to amaze me," Deacon sat Emma down, watching her run to the table.
Deacon was greeted by the first of the men, who looked to be the eldest of them all. He had a tall build to him, though the wrinkles on his face showed that he had been a hard worker for many years. He had grayish-brown hair and pale green eyes, and a thick, gray mustache covering his top lip.
"You know how much we love Emma. Thought we'd buy her a few things to show it," the old man spoke, his voice weary, but sincere.
"Thank you, Lou. You have no idea how much this means to me. Hell, how much it means to her. Really, it's appreciated," Deacon replied, pulling the older man into a hug.
Deacon looked up to Louis Montgomery since the day he had met him. When Deacon was only thirteen, his mother passed away from lung cancer. Deacon had no other relatives, for he had never met his father. Before he could be granted custody to an orphanage, Deacon ran. He ran halfway across the country, from Savanna, Georgia, with a mere two hundred dollars and a knapsack of underwear.
Finally settling in California, he needed more money and a place to sleep. Literally stumbling upon Lou's Garage, Deacon was ready to give up hope. He had been turned down by ten jobs that day and he honestly didn't care if he got the job. Lou noticed the boy; ragged clothes, messy hair, skinny as a runway model, and lonely. Behind his cold, blue eyes showed that he was scared. He was lonely and scared and needed a home.
That very day, Lou offered him a job as a janitor, cleaning up the shop and tools. He allowed Deacon to move in with him, for he was lonely too. His wife passed away long ago and his only son left and moved in with a friend at the age of fifteen. Deacon lived with Lou for the remainder of his teenage years, even giving him the nickname, Deke. He taught him about cars, which allowed him the promotion to mechanic.
Lou taught Deke his two most important rules to life; work hard and play harder. Now at the age of twenty-two, he lived his life by that advice.
"Oh, you know it's nothing, Deke. My granddaughter deserves whatever she wants. That's what she'll get," Lou responded, smiling over at the young girl.
"Who fired up the grill?" Deke asked, taking his jacket off and tossing it over the worn sofa.
"I did," answered a young man with dark features. He had dark brown hair that came to his shoulder and dark eyes. His face was covered in dark stubble and he had a natural tan, being of Italian descent.
"Uncle Mikey can cook?" Emma asked, temporarily dipping in the conversation.
"Yes," he said laughingly. "I'm not completely lazy."
The other men stood around the grill, conversing about something secretive.
"Dan, Ingram, and Pete, you know there are no secrets around my garage. You talk about something, you tell everyone about it. What's going on?" Lou asked, making his way over to the grill, sitting in a nearby chair.
"Hey Em, how 'bout we go try out that new Chevy Camaro you got?" the one described as Pete said, trying to get her from earshot.
"But I wanna hear the secret," Emma whined, walking away with Pete.
The boys laughed, all crowding in by the grill. Deacon was interested in what was about to be said, considering secrets were never kept around the garage.
"Deke, you down for making some cash?" Dan asked, quirking his brow at Deke.
"You know I need the cash. Is something going down tonight?" Deke asked, knowing exactly what was going on.
"Yeah, and guess what I heard? The big dogs are coming back."