Title-What If
Author-Lex - thanks to my beta!
Disclaimer-Don't own anything from TFATF, so please don't sue!
Feedback-Appreciated, this is my first solo written fic. All comments welcome.
Archive-Sure, just let me know first
Summary-What if Mr Toretto wasn't killed by Linder? What would be different, what would stay the same? This is my take.

Author's Note-This chapter is more of a character development and relationship development, drama hits home in the chapter after next! To make it clear, in this Letty doesn't have a crush on Dom, it's the other way around. However, it does not necessarily mean that it will be a Letty/Dom fic but who knows.

Reviewers, thank you all so incredibly much!! Your kind words inspire me to write!! Hope you like this chapter!!

CHAPTER TWO – One Week Later

A week had passed since that fateful day at the races and although someone had lost their life for it to happen, everyone seemed to gain an appreciation for life and those around them.

Tony realized that he was incredibly lucky to still be here and that he'd be more careful from now on and began to cut down on the races he went to, so that he could spend more time with his family. He now remembered to count his blessings and hold onto them, take care of them.

Flipping the chicken over on the grill, Tony took the sauce and brush from Mia and lathered it onto the succulent meat.

Mia smiled at him; "smells great daddy." She said, sitting at the picnic table where Letty was watching Dom and Vince play basketball. She noticed that her brother seemed to be a bit distracted however.

She knew Dominic had had the crash on his mind ever since it had happened, and the thought that his father could have been the victim, though he'd never admit it, it scared him. Ever since he'd taken measures to make sure the family were alright, which was good with her because right now she wanted the knowledge there was people to take care of her.

"Come on Dom!" Letty yelled, laughing as Vince dribbled down the drive and attempted a shot at the net, failing miserably.

"Dominic," Tony's voice carried to his son. "Can you go to the store and pick up some things for the salad? Bring Letty with you too, you might be able to put a brain cell together" he teased them.

Dom turned in the direction of his father, having been trying to block Vince getting to the net, forgetting the game immediately. "What kind of stuff?"

"Just the usual Dom, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes. Go on or the chicken will be charcoal by the time you get back.'' His father replied, impatience growing.

"And you're asking me to bring Let with me? The one person who only ever has one thing on her mind..." he said to his father, then turned to Vince and nudged him and winked. "...Me."

Vince chuckled a little and nudged him back, disturbing him from retrieving a bottle cap from his back pocket. "Nah, she got better things to think about like...me..." he quipped, causing Dom to chuck the cap in his direction.

Vince, now having the open chance to score, decided instead to shoot at Dom's head. He did, and missed, narrowly, the ball flying in front of Dom's face. He caught the ball and chucked it straight at Vince's head...scoring, sending Vince backwards and causing him to let out a cry of pain...followed by a chuckle.

Mia rolled her eyes at her brother and Vince's antics. "You guys are such...guys."

"Well observed Mi." Letty chuckled, brushing her hands on her jeans as she stood up, stretching a little before going over and picking up the basketball and dribbling it around as she waited for Dom.

Dom turned to Lett and snatched the ball from her. "C'mon, let's go." He flashed a grin at her before lifting her up and slinging her over his shoulder. He winked across at Vince, who was chuckling harder. "Catch ya later, man."

"Don't be long!" Tony called after them, shaking his head in amusement.

"Hey!" Letty yelped as he picked her up, "In your dreams Dominic, in your dreams!" She raised a brow, her eyes in direct line to his crotch. "Do you stuff your pants?" she asked, trying to keep the shit eating grin off her face.

Dom dropped her and playfully hit her arm. "100 Toretto, baby girl." He noticeably looked at her chest. "So...do you stuff your bra?" he asked, his eyes visibly fixing themselves to that same spot.

Shoving him away she snorted. "Unlike your hoes Dom I don't need to. 100 all natural." She smirked, moving her head in the way of his view. "Though you'll never get to cop a feel my friend." Letty turned and walked away from him.

He caught up with her fast, backing up mentally on her comment. He really liked Letty, had done for as long as he could remember. Even when she pissed him off and wouldn't leave him alone, he still liked her. He liked that she wasn't a 'ho' and could be trusted, even if he didn't have anything to give her to trust.

He liked her eyes and how he honestly thought he could see things in them. Like when she smiled, her whole face would light up, but the real happiness was in her eyes.

She walked down the street, side by side with him but never said anything, too deep in thought.

Her eyes scanned the house down the street, the house in which she used to live in.

That was before all hell broke loose and her family fell apart. Her parents and little brother Santiago were killed in a car crash, died on impact. She pushed the tears that threatened to rise, down. Her family were the Toretto's now and she didn't want to lose any of them.

Dom hated the silent moments between himself and Letty as much as he loved them. He liked watching her; he could watch her all day. But at the same time he wanted to hear her voice.

He gazed at Letty's old house, and thoughts of what had happened came to mind. He didn't know too much. But he knew enough.

"So..." he began, shoving his hands into his back pockets and shrugging, an irresolute expression taking his form. He hoped maybe he could take her mind off of what had obviously begun to spin round in her head.

"So..." she replied, she knew he was trying to comfort her in some way, pull her thoughts from the day she'd become an orphan and a small smile touched her lips, bumping into him as she walked, "Man slut." she teased.

He smiled. So what if I am, he thought. "Just cos you're still a virgin." he knew that thinking of Letty this way was a sure fire way to turn him right on. He couldn't think of her being anything but pure. He watched her face for her reaction, curious to know what she might reply with.

Letty looked at him, both brows raised. "How would you know if I was? Just because you're sister is doesn't mean I have to be." she told him flatly, unaware of his attraction to her.

The store came into sight and Letty felt a surge of energy pull at her. "Race ya!" she took off towards the store. Though she knew Dom was going to win she couldn't help but like the thrill of the chase.

He did indeed catch her up within about four steps, pushing her off-balance as he ran past. He poked his tongue out at her looking back over his shoulder before running smack into a cyclist. Luckily...walking with the bike.

"Real smooth Dom!" laughed Letty when she got to him. Her eyes were shining through her laughter and she shook her head, chuckles still coming from her and she went into the store to get the salad stuff.

Dom laughed, as well as the cyclist, and followed her into the shop, watching her grab the goods.

Walking through the aisles Letty came upon the shelf of condoms and picked up the smallest size there was, throwing them to Dom before getting the rest of what they needed, and stopping for a few minutes to look at the cd's.

Dom frowned, looking at the packet, and chucking it back in her direction. "Hey, I'm not paying for your boyfriend's condoms; tell him to get his own!" He joined her at the CD aisle, immediately grabbing a case. "You know, I can sing..." he said, his eyes fixated on the back of the CD case, his eyebrows rose as if for shameless promotion.

"Yeah right, sure you can Dom." Letty rolled her eyes; putting the CD she was holding back down as she headed for the counter. "I remember your 6th grade show!"

He put down his CD also and followed her to the counter, and once there, slipped his hands gently around her, and leant his face close to her ear, beginning to sing "Hush, Little Baby." He really did have a voice, and even when at the tiniest of volumes. He slipped some money up onto the counter to pay for the goods as he continued to sing.

She looked over her shoulder at him and cracked up laughing, shoving him away. "That doesn't count as a song Dom." Letty picked one of the bags up, handing the other to him as she left the store.

But there was something about what he did that got to her, something that felt so right. His hands on her, his voice in her ear, hot breath on her neck...Letty shook it off. It doesn't mean anything, he's your friend, she thought, trying to make an excuse for his actions.

He chuckled to himself and thanked the assistant before leaving. He caught her up one more time and took the bag from her. "You don't have to carry that." he watched her a moment as he took the bag from her hand, using his free hand to unwrap her fingers from the bag.

"Got any plans this weekend?" he started once again, just to hear her speak. Just a little bit more. He liked these times when it was just the two alone, speaking. They could really talk if they wanted to. He always wanted that.

Yet Letty opening up to him was a decision she had to make. Not the other way round. And so he left it. Let her tell him whatever she wanted. Just as long as she spoke to him.

Letty shrugged, letting him the bag, for once not bitching about how she was just as capable as him. She scrunched her face up slightly. "Mia wants me to help baby sit the kids down the street on Saturday. Other than that I have nothing planned. You racing?" her eyes cast upon him, curiosity in them.

More than anything Letty wanted to go to one of the street races, but Tony wouldn't let her or Mia until they were 16. She didn't argue his rules but it still sucked.

Dom listened intently to her words, shaking his head a little at her last set. "Nah...I just think I'm gonna cool it for a while." Racing...kept reminding him of that crash. It freaked him out, no face. He wasn't afraid to admit it. That guy...the thoughts of it being his dad...

She nodded in understanding. He didn't have to say it for her to know why he wasn't racing.

"On Sunday we could all go to the beach or something, and then come home to watch movies." she suggested as they rounded the corner back to the house.

He shrugged. "Sure."

"Finally!" Tony exclaimed when they came into the garden. "We thought we'd have to send out a search party or something."

"They were probably fighting about what kind of lettuce to buy." Mia chimed in. Letty never told Mia that when alone she and Dom got along pretty well. But then what sister wanted to know her best friend liked the person she fought with on a daily basis.

Dom chucked the bag in Anthony's direction and grabbed the basketball, resumed playing, but as he continued, something allowed him to remain attached to Letty. Emotionally. He felt just that little bit closer. Probably nothing, he thought, as he began dribbling the ball.

"Food's done!" Tony called, setting the last of the bowls and platters on the table. They all took their seats; Tony at the head of the table, Dom to his right and Mia to his left, Letty next Mia and Vince next to Dom.

The silence at the picnic table was a comfortable one. It was part of the routine. Tony looked around at all the kids, trying to force them to take a piece of food with his eyes. "Come on, don't be so afraid." he kept the grin from his face.

Letty and Mia both avoided looking in his direction, instead looked anywhere but him. They didn't want to say grace, it wasn't their turn.

Dom cleared his throat. "I did it yesterday, Dad," he told him, knowing it wasn't his turn, for sure.

Vince's actions were imitations of Letty's and Mia's. Avoiding all contact with Anthony. His eyes avoiding Anthony. Perhaps he was playing a game of statue.

Tony held his gaze on Vince. "Come on Vincent, you know you're hungry." he sat back in his chair. "If you don't say grace that's fine but you'll go even hungrier."

Mia looked at Vince. "V please?"

Vince grumbled a little, looking at Anthony first then at Mia and mumbled something unintelligent beneath his breath, causing Dom and Letty to chuckle a little. He cleared his throat, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, rested his chin on his fingers, and clenched his jaw as he thought of what to say, the others bowing their heads also, smirking.

"Whenever you went hungry...you ate. So let us. Thanks, God," he concluded, and with that, sat back, released his hand, and smiled contently to himself. "The chicken's too far away could someone please pass me eight pieces?"

Tony chuckled and passed Vince the platter of chicken as the girls started chatting about something. Once again he watched all of them. These were his children and his 'adopted' children and though they all had their faults, his heart swelled with love for them.

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Lex
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