Five Months Later

She told only one who the father was, her best friend Lori who worked with her at her store and she made her promise on her life, friendship and job that she wouldn't say anything. She saw no need to disrupt anyone else's life. Her brother was pissed, he knew it was a street racer but had no idea who, he had never seen her leave with anyone. She stopped going to the races completely after finding out she was pregnant and even considered selling her car. She just couldn't bring herself to do that, so she put it in storage and got something with four doors and that was more comfortable and not quite as loud. She didn't need the baby waking up every time she started the car.

So far everything was progressing well with the pregnancy; she was gaining weight but not too much. She had her food cravings but so far it had been healthy foods, except for the week she was eating Ruben sandwiches two times a day. She was almost half way through and it was getting close to the time for her ultrasound. She was still undecided about wanting to know the sex or not.

A month after finding out about the baby she decided to tell Dom. She even got in her car and drove over to his garage. As she drew near, she saw all the car of his friends lined up and Letty in his arms, kissing each other passionately. She didn't want to ruin that anymore than she already had; she felt enough guilt as it was for what she had done. It was obvious they were happy and she decided to raise the child on her own. She felt a twinge of guilt about it, but she and Dom ran in different circles and she never expected him to find out, certainly not like he did.

She was out shopping with her brother on a Saturday and getting ready to have lunch. They walked out of a small baby boutique by the beach when they heard someone call her brothers name. Over the last few months, he had started to make a name for himself as he began to win more and more races, making more and more money and spending more and more money, with the help of Dom and his team working on his car. She was stupid enough to think she wouldn't accidentally run into them, or perhaps she just never really put too much thought in it, that was something she would muse about later.

"Yo Matt, what's up?" Brian called to him and Vince, Leon, and Dom all turned around and called his name. Of course Matt went over to them and started to talk and shake hands. Jessica did everything she could to cover her bulging stomach but it was useless with the tight tank top she had on. "Matty, you didn't tell us you had a kid on the way." Brian said in surprise.

Matt laughed, "Na dawg, that's my sister Jessica. No kids for me thanks." Everyone said hi to her, everyone except Dom. His eyes blazed at her with such a fierce anger and she knew he knew the baby was his.

"Hey, we're heading back Dom's house to party, want to come?" Brian asked Matt as the other's made their way to their prospective cars.

Matt looked at Jessica, his eyes pleading. She smiled as she looked at him. He was a really cute kid and usually had girls fighting for his attentions. He looked like he could be Brian's brother. He had the same blue eyes, but his hair was blonde and streaked with white from the sun. His skin was sun kissed, like a surfer and his muscles, while well defined, weren't huge like Dom's. She knew how much it meant to him to be asked, "Go on, I'm tired anyway. I'm just going to go home and take a nap." She gave him her best fake smile as her heart raced. She knew there would be no nap that afternoon, not with the way Dominic's eyes were blazing at her.

"You sure sis?" He asked her patting her belly and then giving her a goodbye hug.

She swallowed hard when she saw Dom's fist clenched, "Yes, now get your butt moving. Go find yourself a good woman so I don't have to take care of your ass anymore." She told him with a laugh.

Matt jumped in the car with Brian who yelled out his car window, "Yo Dom, you coming, brother?"

"Yeah, I'll be right there." He replied, trying to sound light and not show the reason he stayed behind. Both Dom and Jessica saw Matt's face. The look of confusion as to why he was still there, standing by his sister and then the brief flash of rage before he laughed at something Brian said. Shit, she was in for it now. Matt knew and he would try to go after Dom about it and bitch at her to no end. She felt a migraine coming one, something she has been blissfully free of since her pregnancy.

"Where's your girl?" She asked haughtily as she began to walk to her car.

"Don't get fucking cute with me Jessica." He told her grabbing her by the arm and pulling her away from the crowd, "Where's your car?"

"It's right here let the fuck go of me Dom." She hissed at him. He stopped and looked at the vehicle she was pointing too, puzzled.

"What happened to the Firebird?"

"Not really a family friendly car."

"So you're driving an Escalade now?"

"Who cares what I'm driving? I'm going home, let me go." She pulled her arm out of his grasp, fighting tears at the painful bruises that were already forming. Jessica buckled her seatbelt and put it in reverse. "Good bye Dom." But before she could pull out, he grabbed hold of the window frame.

"We need to talk about this Jess."

She sighed, "I know Dom." She knew he would follow her. She prayed this day would never come, but it did and she realized what a huge mistake she had made, two actually. The first one was not telling him in the first place and the second one was thinking she could just go on with life and never have to see him again. Her brother was at his place at least once a week and Matt had begun planning a huge Labor Day party and she was sure he would invite the team. How could she have been so stupid? Jessica wiped a tear off her face, no use in crying about it now. What's done is done, time to figure out what's next.

Every time she thought of Dom and their night together she smiled. It was the best night of her life and now she had a piece of that night with her forever. She had never planned on being a single mom. She had always hoped for the white picket fence and loving husband. Life got in the way of dreams and she found herself in a mess.

It was just her and Matt. Her parents moved away to Florida a few years ago. She could never quite figure out why, it was just as warm in California, but perhaps they just wanted to be with other old people, or a slower way of life. Either way, it was just her and Matt. They shared the house but he was looking for a new place to crash after the baby was born. He said she would need the space, but she knew it was because he didn't want to get woken up at three am. It didn't matter, this was her mess, and she made her bed so to speak.

She pulled into her driveway and parked in the garage. Dom pulled in only seconds behind her. If it was possible, he looked even more pissed and she wanted to cry. She had hurt him and she never wanted to do that. She knew he didn't care for her but no one should be denied their own child. What had she been thinking? He would never forgive her for this.

A kid. I can't fucking believe this. She's pregnant and never bothered to tell me about it. I could choke her for this. I'm not ready to be a father; I don't want to be a father. I'll make a shitty father. What am I gonna tell Letty? She's gonna be so pissed and she'll go after her. I can't let that happen. Good going Dom. See what you get for thinking with your dick? In truth, he had thought about her a lot, wondered what she was up to and why she stopped coming to the races. He stopped looking for her after a month or so and tried to pretend like he never met her, but it was hard. He and Letty continued on but their relationship was stained to say the least and it seemed to revolve around one thing, sex. Hot, sweaty sex. He often wondered if he wanted something more but knew Jessica deserved better than him and knew she wouldn't be happy with a mechanic and street racer.

She unlocked the door and felt the instant relief of cool air hitting her. She sighed as it began to relieve her headache. Putting her bags down on the floor, she went into the kitchen and got her a bottle of water and him a beer. He would need it, she was sure.

Dom took the beer and took a long sip. She watched the muscles of his neck work, mesmerized. Her eyes met his and she flinched as they burned holes into her. She wondered what he would say when he spoke to her as she watched the emotions play over his face. Anger, pain, fear, anger, anger, excitement, fear, and then finally, once more anger. This is the one he started off with.

"What the fuck Jessica? Why didn't you tell me?" He roared at her, slamming his now empty bottle down.

I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry, "I was going to,"

"When, when the kids going to college?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me Jess!"

"I'm not, I planned on telling you. I even went over to your place once. All your friends were over, you and Letty were…"

"So what? You just decided I didn't need to know I was gonna have a kid?"

"Yes, no. Damn it, what was I suppose to say Dom? Sorry about crashing the party, you all don't know me but Dom does, well he did for a night. Just wanted to stop by and tell you that you're gonna be a dad. Sorry Letty, I slept with your man but you can't kick my ass cause I'm pregnant and besides I'm a black belt and I'll womp you?"

He tried not to laugh, he really did but he couldn't help it. "She would have kicked my ass instead." He sobered as the anger crept back in but not so hot this time and also mixed with hurt.

"I'm sorry Dom. I can't believe this happened. I didn't know what to do. I didn't think you would want it."

"You never gave me a chance."

"True, I'll give you that." She watched as his gaze softened as he lowered his eyes to her stomach. Maybe she was wrong about him after all.

"When are you due?"

"Valentines Day."

"Are you serious?"

She laughed and nodded yes. "Cheesy I know, but yeah good old V-D day."

"Do you know what it is?"

"Not yet, but soon."

"Is… is everything alright?"

"Yeah, heartbeat is strong and I'm measuring where I'm supposed to be." He looked at her confused. "It's how they can chart the baby's growth, they measure my stomach and I'm right where I should be, slightly larger but considered who the daddy is, I'm not surprised."

"Can you feel it?"

"A little bit here and there, but nothing too solid yet but in a few weeks I'm sure it will be kicking up a storm and keeping me awake at night."

Dom ran his hands over his face and head. What was he going to do? His life was just turned upside down in a matter of an hour. A kid? Shit! Jessica watched his inter struggle and decided to offer him some comfort. She went though the emotions alone and she knew what he was feeling. She went over to him and hugged him; he grabbed her and hugged her back hard. This was the mother of his child, his child.

They stayed like that for a long time. She could feel him trembling slightly and she started to cry. She hadn't let herself cry for a really long time, not about this. But in his arms she allowed it. The fear and loneliness came to the surface and needed to be washed away. The pressing weight of fear that he would find out was no more. He now knew and it was now his choice what he would do about it.

After a while, Dom kissed the top of her head and tried to make his way down to her mouth. She pulled away, clearing her throat. "No Dom. You need to decide what you want. You can forget about me and the baby. You can be a father or we can perhaps try to make something work here. I'm not gonna be a just a fuck again. I have a kid to think about now, that part of my life is over.

The choice is yours and I won't hold anything against you, no matter what you choose, but know this, if you choose to try and start some kind of relationship with me, it's only me and that's it. I'm not Letty and I won't look the other way. One shot, that's all you get. We can take it slow, but I will not put up with anything less than one hundred percent, our baby deserves that.

I don't know if it can work between us, we hardly know each other, and I don't expect you to change your life but I will not put up with a half assed attempt. Got it?"

His voice sounded horse and tried, "Yeah," He placed his hand gently on her stomach and closed his eyes. A brief smile graced his lips and then he was gone.

Jessica shank onto the couch and sighed. She was so tired. She locked the door, got a quick bite to eat, peed again, and went to take that long overdue nap.