3 Years Later
"Papi, Papi! Quiero ayudarte!" Dominique hollered joyfully into DT's Garage. She had just finished breakfast with Grandma Petra, and now that she was dressed in bows and a frilly dress, she had come to her father to get it all dirty.
Dom slid from underneath the car he'd been working on and sat up, smiling at his daughter.
"Come give papi a kiss good morning." He said, holding his arms open, waiting until she ran into them full force, smacking into his chest with a loud grunt.
"Te amo, Papi. Mucho, Mucho!" she smiled, grabbing onto his ears and rubbing noses with him.
"Papi loves you too. Now today, we have an oil change. So we're gonna get really dirty." He smiled, watching as she clapped excitedly.
"I like getting dirty, Daddy."
"I know, baby. Just like your mommy." He murmured, thinking about all the many ways Letty liked getting dirty over the years.
"Hand papi that towel and then you and I will grab what we need to get this done." He explained, grinning at his pride and joy. She ran hurriedly towards the towel bin, grabbing one and running back to him.
It amazed him how over the years, he had managed to change so dramatically in order to fit this bundle of energy at the center of his world.
It had taken some work, but the result had been amazingly rewarding. His daughter was his everything and for the first time in his life, he understood his own father's love for him.
He thought back to the time DJ was first dropped to him and the nervous wreck he had been upon her arrival. He never doubted that he'd take care of her and be her father, but he was damn concerned about what kinda job he'd be able to do.
Thank God for Mia and Brian.
Dom Flashback
It seemed to take Mia and Brian forever to get from Panama to Puerto Rico. Dominique had awoken half-heartedly during the night, to which he was lucky that a messy diaper change and warm bottle coaxed her back into slumber. Once she was comfortably back in dreamland, Dom sat in his bedroom and watched her all night, talking to God about this situation.
How could life be so cruel and so kind in the same breath?
His Letty had given him a daughter, but was still out of his reach. He wanted her so desperately in the moment he thought the emotion suffocating. DJ needed her mother, she needed her sweet voice and her laughter to fill her. She shouldn't be denied the unique way that Letty loved and mostly, Dom wanted his other half back.
She was the only person that could make him feel good about doing this, the only person's who opinion he trusted in the matter.
He didn't sleep the entire night, so when the urgent knock on the door sounded in the quiet house, he opened it, appearing so lost and defeated that Mia's hands flew to her mouth.
"Dom? What is it?" She asked, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly. Brian and baby Gabriel came up behind her, Brian immediately scanning the surrounding for any clues on his brother-in-laws current condition.
"Thanks for coming Mia." His voice sounded, the air in his lungs heavy.
When they situated in the living room, Dom relayed the entire story he'd been given, watching as different emotions flashed across their faces.
"Dom how do you know this woman is telling the truth?" Mia asked, grasping at possibilities. She didn't want her brother emotionally attached to something that could be ripped from him. He'd been there and done that too many times.
"She looks just like you, Mia. She has Letty's mouth, and hair, but everything else is pure Toretto." He beamed, feeling his first sense of pride.
"May I look in on her?" Mia asked, standing teary eyed, and leaving when Dom nodded his head giving permission.
Brian sat back, looking at him pensively once Mia left.
"Remember that talk you had with me in Rio? I was scared shitless, much like you are right now. You're going to do an amazing job, Dom. You have the perfect example." Brian offered, wanting to assure Dom that everything was going to be ok.
"I don't want to do this without her, Brian. How can I raise her daughter without her?"
"Hopefully, that will change, Dom. Letty keeps her promises. She's going to come home. She's already cheated death more times than not. She's coming home."
Mia walked back into the room with a smile on her face.
"Dominic, why is my niece asleep with no diaper on?" She asked, pure joy lighting her features after looking at the baby.
He hunched his shoulders with a blank expression.
"Couldn't figure out how to get the damn thing on, so I figured she could be free." He replied.
Mia and Brian broke into laughter at the admission, sharing a knowing look before Mia focused her attention back at Dom.
"Well, your sheets are now yellow. Next time, put a diaper on her. She's not potty trained." She laughed, gesturing for him to follow her back onto the bedroom.
As they opened the door, DJ chose to make her first real introduction to her father and let out a blood curdling scream.
Mia immediately walked over to the bed and scooped her up, attempting to calm her, bouncing her around in her arms while shushing in her ear. As Dom looked into a replica of his own eyes, his heart flip-flopped; he had a daughter.
Asleep, she was completely angelic, but awake, she contained all the makings of a princess.
Her unruly dark hair in bouncy curls were strewn all over the place. Her strong jawline set regal in a way that was all Mia. Her full mouth, wide like her mother's wailed open, releasing a sound that felt whimsical to him.
He was completely in love with this girl.
As he watched DJ cry, he realized that through her tears, she kept her eyes on him, and her cries never subsided.
"Poor thing! All of these strangers and no mommy to make you feel safe. Don't worry, Auntie Mia and Papi Dom will make sure you are well taken care of, Pretty Girl." Mia cooed.
"Maybe she's hungry, Mia." Dom voiced, and immediately, DJ reached for him. His eyes widened and he stood stark still, as Mia realized she was crying and struggling to get to her father. Dom was nervous at the notion of her wanting him, but felt a sense of pride in the gesture.
"She wants you Dom." Mia confirmed, walking over to her brother. Before she could attempt to pass her over, DJ reached over into his strong arms, climbing into them haphazardly.
He allowed her to situate herself against him, laying her head on his chest, her hands immediately going to his ears. Her cries were softening and when Dom spoke again, she stopped completely.
"Well, maybe you didn't need my help." Mia teased, rubbing her nieces back as she calmed.
"No, I need your help Mia. I don't even have a diaper on my…" he paused, the words on his lips sounding so weird.
"Say it, Dom. Its okay. She's real." Mia smiled.
"My daughter, Mia. What in the hell am I gonna do about her?" he sighed, surprised when DJ lifted her head and kissed his nose quickly before laying her head back to his chest.
"Oh my gosh!" Mia laughed softly, "I don't know big brother, but something tells me you're going to have a helleva time figuring it out. You're going to do an amazing job."
Dom sat holding the phone casually in the middle of the night, DJ asleep on his chest. She had played with her cousin the better part of the day, waddling around the house and playing in the water with Brian and Mia. He was overwhelmed, no doubt about it but he figured if Letty could do it, then so could he. He had no other choice.
"Hello?" the voice sounded on the other end, and Dom let out a sigh of relief.
"Hello Petra. Its Dominic."
"Oh, I'm so glad to here from you. How is my DJ?" she inquired, and Dom couldn't stop the smile that came over his features.
"She's okay so far. She's asleep here with me. I think she likes my voice." He chuckled.
"Yes, she loved that about Letty as well. The raspy voice calms her. Letty showed her your picture everyday. She probably recognized you, as well." She grinned knowingly. Dom felt a sense of comfort in the gesture.
"So I was wondering when you'd be back? My sister is here now, but she can't stay forever. I have an extra room, and I can fix it anyway you like." He offered, hoping the woman would agree to come as soon as possible so he could try to establish some sort of normalcy.
"I'm sure the room would be fine. I can be there by the end of the week. I am almost finished with my business here in the Ukraine and I can come back for as long as you need."
She explained, grateful that he was offering her a place in DJ's life.
"That sounds fine. I will let Mia know so she can plan to be here until you arrive. Is there anything I can help you with? Money or plane ticket?" he asked, sighing as though aweight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Letty said you'd do all this. She really knows you so well. I am fine, Mr Toretto. I have everything I need. I will arrive this coming Saturday."
"Okay. I look forward to Saturday. And Petra, please call me Dominic."
"Okay, Dominic. Do Pobachennya." She concluded, ending the call. (Goodbye)
Life had been so uncertain for him then.
He remembered holding DJ all night and just listening to her breathe.
His mind went to Letty, wondering what he did wrong that put them in this position. His daughter was now four and still without a mother. He didn't want to give up hope, but he had no way of knowing if Letty would ever return.
The uncertainty was killing him, and when DJ returned to him, holding a quart of oil and her enthusiastic smile, he knew he had no other choice than to keep praying for her every night and to make sure that his daughter had everything that Letty would want her to have; family, love, stability, and him.
TBC…Next Chapter…Petra talks about times with Letty…Dom experiences a first….lol…stay tuned!
