Just because I didn't include this in my first chapter, mostly because I think it's obvious, but I don't own even the smallest sliver of The Fast and the Furious franchise... Though I wouldn't mind it. I won't even take full credit for the original characters as they are just names and attitudes. As always, thanks for the feedback, it encourages me a lot. Chapter three is already written, so it shouldn't be long before that is posted, but chapter four & five need to be entirely re-written. That may take some time. So, between work, school and spending time with my boyfriend, I'll do what I can.

- x -

I've been alone with you inside my mind

And in my dreams I've kissed your lips a thousand times

I sometimes see you pass outside my door

Hello? Is it me you're looking for?

I can see it in your eyes I can see it in your smile

You're all I've ever wanted, and my arms are open wide

Cause you know just what to say

And you know just what to do

And I want to tell you so much

I love you

She looked up at him over her beer and swallowed hard, swallowing the lump on her throat and the beer. The way he smiled made her heart flutter. His chocolate eyes made her want to melt into him. Sighing, she set the beer down and reached for the chocolate on the counter in front of her. Chewing quietly, she didn't notice him or the guys approach.

"Looks like it's about that time of the month for somebody," he spoke almost rudely. She bit her tongue, knowing it was just because his friends were there. "Somebody remind Mia to get the tampons so I don't have to run out at three in the morning again." That was it.

"Oh, fuck you Dominic." The way it left her mouth made it sound more like a command than an insult. Feeling the heat in her cheeks, she reached for her bottle of beer and swallowed hard.

"Aren't you a little young for that?" He questioned, reaching to take it from her hand.

"Uh, no," she said pulling it from his reach, "I'm twenty-one now, Dominic."

"Is that right?" He questioned, looking over his shoulder at Leon and Vince and she swallowed. "Well, it looks like we'll have to take you out, to celebrate you turning twenty-one." She nodded a little, not really giving an answer, just acknowledging what he said. Nodding one last time, he turned from her, leaving her alone with her chocolate.

"What does he know?" She muttered to herself, tossing another piece of chocolate into her mouth.

"Talking to yourself again?" A woman questioned, appearing from the office behind the counter. "I always thought you were a strange woman, Veronica." Vera swallowed the chocolate in her mouth and looked at the older woman, almost sneering. She hated her. And hated that she kept calling her Veronica. She hated that name.

"Sandy, why don't you go find a guy to fuck?" She questioned sourly. The blond smirked at the younger woman and nodded, turning from the counter, snatching a piece of chocolate before she did. Vera rolled her eyes and stood from the stool.

"Hey Vera," she turned her head toward the voice and smiled at Mia, who was grinning from ear to ear. "How are you today?" She questioned, taking a seat on the stool next to where she'd been sitting.

"I guess I can't complain." She muttered, taking a seat again on the stool she'd been sitting on before.

"Still in love with my brother?" Mia questioned, reaching for a piece of chocolate on the counter.

"No." Vera replied shortly, and then frowned at Mia's face. "Is it obvious?" She asked curiously.

"Very." With a sigh, Vera hung her head. "But don't worry, Dom's a man. He's completely ignorant. Sandy is the one who pointed it out to me. She wants you to keep your hands off her man."

"What?" Vera scoffed and shook her head. "As if Dom would even look at me as more than a friend. No, as more than a person who works for him. Besides, last I checked, Sandy wasn't exactly the faithful one."

"I just wish Dom would open his eyes and see that. All those years he cheated on Letty, he should be able to recognize the signs."

"Who's Letty?" Vera asked before Mia even realized she mentioned her.

"Dom's first wife."

"I didn't know Dom was married before Sandy." Vera thought about her next question. "Is there a reason why?"

"She just kind of up and left Dom. Spent the night with him, then when he woke up the next morning, she was gone. No note or anything. He got the divorce papers in the mail about a month later. Nobody has seen her since." Vera nodded quietly then looked over her shoulder when she heard a noise.

"And he would prefer it if you didn't talk about her again." Vera opened her mouth to speak. "Please?" His voice was quiet and almost sad. Vera nodded and for the first time, she actually felt bad for him. It was obvious she hurt him.

"Hey Dom?" Vera asked, looking away from him. Now or never, do it. "Let's go get a drink tonight, hm?" Dom raised a brow then glanced over at Mia, who just shrugged.

"Yeah, alright." Dom said with a nod, smiling a little. Mia watched as Vera bit her lip and watched Dom as he walked away.

"Oh, wow." Mia chuckled and Vera looked over at her. "You are crushing so hard." Vera rolled her eyes and Mia smirked. "Vera loves Dominic."

"Mia, shut up!" Vera hissed, shoving her shoulder roughly.

Once Mia started giggling, Vera felt herself lose it as well.

- x -

Vera sighed heavily and pushed away the book she'd just been staring at for the last half hour.

"Vera, what're you doing?" Vera craned her neck to see her little sister standing in the door leading from the kitchen. "Mom says you were in here talking to yourself earlier. Is that right?" Vera chuckled and moved from the floor to the couch, patting beside her.

"Tiff, if mom told you I jumped off a cliff, would you believe her?" Vera chuckled when her little sister shrugged her shoulders then took a seat beside her. "Why aren't you out with your friends?"

"I don't have friends, Vera." Vera eyed her sister and nodded a little. "Apparently they'd rather go make out than hang out with me anymore. I'm too young for them because I don't have a boyfriend yet."

"Well, there's no rushing getting a boyfriend, Tiff. They're icky anyway."

"You're just saying that."

"No, I'm not. I tell you, boys are icky, stay away from them as long as you can," Vera was trying her best not crack a smile, but she failed miserably. "Why do you want a boyfriend anyway?"

"So I have somebody. Somebody to make out with, like the rest of my friends." Vera let out a little chuckle and shook her head at her sister. "It's not funny."

"It is. A little." Tiff crossed her arms over her chest and pouted, making Vera chuckle even louder. "Tiff, you're twelve years old. You don't need a boyfriend. You can have boys that are friends, but you don't need somebody to make out with."

"There's this boy Tommy who's in my class. He's really cute." Vera nodded a little and thought.

"What about that friend of yours, what's his name?"

"Who? Danny?" Vera shrugged and smiled a little. "Ew, Vera. He's my friend."

"All you need are friends."

"Well, what about you?" Vera raised a brow and turned slightly to face her little sister. "You had Cecilia."

"You're right, I had Cecilia," Vera nodded and swallowed, "but the way it happened was an accident and I was too young to be doing what I was doing."

"You were twelve, weren't you?" Vera took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I was fourteen, Tiffany." Her sister nodded and looked at her. "You were five. You remember that?"

"I just know you have her." Vera nodded. "And Alexandra."

"Tiff, I really think you should get back upstairs to your homework." Vera snapped, quickly, quietly and stressing the urgency to drop the conversation. Tiff nodded and moved off the couch and ran up the stairs, leaving Vera alone.

- x -

"Having fun yet?" Vera asked Dom over her own beer. Dom shrugged his shoulders and she frowned. "I'm sorry that I couldn't be more exciting then."

"No, it's not you. I'm sorry, I'm just not really in the mood to do much I guess." He swallowed the remainder of his beer and she frowned more. "I found out that Sandy had been cheating on me since we were married. Grace may not even be my daughter." Vera suddenly felt bad for him.

"She's your daughter, Dom. You've raised her."

"I should have known. Everybody else knew. How come I didn't know?" He looked up into Vera's eyes and whimpered.

"Sometimes realizing those things is the hardest thing to do. It's hard to open your eyes and see what others see. Especially when you're crazy in love." Vera sighed softly to herself and Dom nodded, then stood quickly.

"Let's dance." Vera raised an eyebrow at Dom's outstretched hand and looked at him.

They'd both been trying to drink away memories and pain.

She couldn't remember taking his hand, or him leading her out to the crowded dance floor, but she did remember him gripping her waist and pulling her close. That was all she wanted to remember.

- x -

Vera groaned loudly, rolling onto her stomach, burying her face in the pillow. She didn't need to wake up fully, she already felt like shit. She'd had way too much to drink the previous night, and she'd remind herself to scream at Dom for it later. They shared stories of their past while doing numerous shots of random drinks they'd never tried, just to say they'd tried everything.

Vera jumped when she felt a movement beside her and looked around, then sat up.

Dom.

She poked his shoulder and he swatted her hand in annoyance. She glanced down at herself and saw herself to be wearing only a bra. She glanced around the room and sighed when she saw their clothes lying in a pile in the corner, forgotten.

"Shit," She whimpered, pressing a hand to her forehead. "What the fuck did I do last night?" Surveying the room a little more she realized she was in her own room, which was a bad thing. She couldn't crawl out of the bed and disappear as if it hadn't happened. However, she'd still have to face him at work when he finally decided to come into work.

Scooting out of the bed, she tightened the blanket around her and quietly moved to her closet, getting clean clothes and heading straight for the bathroom. She didn't really care to shower, she just wanted to get out of the house, and so she dressed very quickly.

"Good afternoon," her mother said cheerfully from the stove. Vera turned her head and watched as her mom mixed something in a pot on the stove. "Glad to see you've finally gotten out of bed. We tried to get you up earlier, the door was locked." Vera looked over to the kitchen table where there were four girls sitting at the table. Vera picked out the oldest and stared at her and she nodded a little.

"I have to get to work." Vera ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath.

"Oh, stay for lunch. I made a big pot of macaroni and cheese, and by Alex's request, I put in bacon." Her mom urged.

"Dom's upstairs," Vera whispered to her mom, "I was trying to get out of the house quickly."

"You're going to face him sooner or later. Why not over lunch?"

"He just stayed the night. We got wasted, he dropped me off and I refused to let him drive any further." Vera hated lying to her mom, and she swore her mom always knew when she was lying, but she didn't press into it anymore.

"Sit." Vera sighed and took a seat between the oldest two girls. Vera turned to the oldest and smiled a little, and then lost the smile when she saw the scowl on her face.

"You owe me," she muttered under her breath. Vera nodded and took a deep breath.

"Thanks, Cassie." Vera whispered, keeping her voice low intentionally.

"Mommy?" Vera turned her head to another girl at the table and smiled a little. "Where were you last night? Grandma had to read me my bed time story because you weren't here."

"I'm sorry, baby. I had to work late." The girl nodded then looked at the door. Vera turned her head slowly, seeing Dom, still partially asleep and looked awful.

"Ms. Vincent." Dom said, quietly, nodding toward Vera's mom. He'd met her a time or two when she'd taken her car to Dom's garage to have it looked at. Dom turned to the table and smiled gently at the five pairs of bright blue eyes that stared back at him, catching Vera's particularly.

"Hello, Dominic. Vera mentioned you had spent the night. Would you like to stay for lunch? There's plenty of food for you as well."

"Thanks, but I should really get home. My sister's probably is wondering where I am." Thinking quietly to himself, Dom glanced back at Vera. "Want a ride to the garage?" Vera nodded once and stood slowly from the table, watching her mom as she did.

"Mom, I'm going to work. I'll be home early tonight." Vera leaned over and kissed the two youngest girls at the table on the cheek. "I'll come home and watch a movie with you two when I get home."

"Okay." They both said together, looking back at Vera's mom who was approaching with a bowl of food for each of them.

"I'll be home later, mom." Her mom nodded and Vera left the kitchen, grabbing Dom's arm as she did.

"What," Vera grabbed his arm harder and pulled him out of the house before he could finish the question. "Who were the girls at the table?" Vera raised a brow and shook her head.

"My sisters." Dom hadn't met her family before and he'd had no need to. "What happened last night, Dom, it was a mistake, okay? We won't talk about it anymore, okay?" Dom nodded a little and he couldn't think of anything to say. "Let's just go to work."

- x -

Any feedback is nice. -B.