Hey guys! Hope you had a good Holiday Season! This one is a little shorter than normal but that's because this one was a little harder to write. Next one will come out soon though since this one is shorter than normal. Enjoy!

Dom was right about the movie, Alex didn't want to say anything and ruin it for Leon but she was scared. She had Dom's hand clutched so tight he feared he'd lose circulation and twice she buried her face in his arm. It was in the middle of a movie when the blonde bimbo was suspended in the air spread eagle that Alex started shaking.

"Alex?" Dom asked, but she didn't respond as she was too transfixed on the screen. The villain stepped up to the girl with something hidden in his hand but Alex seemed to know what it was.

"No." Alex started to shake her head as the man revealed the whip. "No, no, no." She whispered over and over.

"Alex." Dom start a bit firmer. It caught the attention of Leon and Jesse who were watching with them. Dom grasped the girl's shoulder but it seemed as if she was in a trance. As the whip cut across the woman's back Alex emitted a bloodcurdling scream that chilled the boys to their core.

"Turn off the movie!" Dom commanded as he stepped in front of Alex to block the screen. The boys scrambled to turn it off as quickly as possible. The silence in the room was only interrupted by the quiet mutterings of Alex. She had her knees pulled up to her chest, her hands covering her ears, and her eyes clinched shut. The other had all come out of their rooms and were gathered around to see what the hell had happened.

"Alex?" Dom reached out and touched her arm, but she pulled away and started muttering louder but it was so fast they couldn't understand anything she said. "Baby girl, it's okay. It's me, Dom. You're safe."

The muttering stopped and deep breaths took their place. "I'm safe." She finally choked out.

"That's right Alex, you're safe." She slowly opened her eyes and removed her hands from her ears.

"I'm safe." Alex repeated. "They can't hurt me."

"Never." Dom said firmly. "They're never going to hurt you!" Alex nodded her head slowly still shaking. Dom looked around at his family and they all had looks of concern, Mia looked like she was about to cry.

"Why don't we get you up to bed?" Alex gave a shaking nod, but Dom didn't think she even heard him since she didn't move. He put his hand out for her and she put her trembling hand in his large steady hand. As he pulled her from the couch the girl's legs gave way and she ended up falling into Dom. All the boys, including Vince, stepped forward to steady her on instinct but Dom had her secured.

"Want me to carry you?" Dom whispered softly in her ear. Alex wanted to have Dom's strong arms around her, she wanted to breathe in his intoxicating scent, she wanted to feel safe, but she didn't want the others to see her as weak. She wanted to prove to Vince that she was stronger than he thought. With a gentle shake of her head she pulled back from him. He put his arm around her waist to guide her and keep her from falling.

"Why don't you guys put in another movie." Dom said it like a suggestion, but they all knew that he wanted them to go about their business and stay out of Alex's. They all looked away from the pair walking to the stairs and they did just as Dom suggested, although no one really paid attention to it.

Alex took her first step up the stairs and nearly fell. She was shaking so bad that she couldn't control her Jell-O like legs any longer. Dom seeing that the others weren't watching quickly threw the girl up into his arms and started the accent towards their bedrooms. Alex let out a little whimper in protest but as she felt the strength of his arms, the power in his legs, she knew that she would rather be here than anywhere else.

Dom entered Alex's room and gently placed her on the bed. "You okay?" He asked as he knelt down beside her pushing the hair out of her eyes. She started to say yes like always, but as she did a lump caught in her throat and it was all she needed to send her over. Dom saw the tears before they left her eyes and she was up and in his lap before she could say anything. For the second time that day he rocked her as she cried into his chest.

Alex was angry at the tears, she was angry that she was being emotional, she was angry for a lot of things, but she was mostly exhausted. She was tired of crying over them, over her old life. She just couldn't seem to shake her past.

"Alex, I've got you. Those men can't hurt you anymore!" Dom reassured her as she started to calm down.

"Remember." Alex started in a quiet voice but was interrupted by a hiccup. "Remember when Jesse asked me those questions, and I freaked out?" Dom nodded, he remembered it all too well. "Every year on my birthday that's what they'd do." Alex trembled remembering the sharp end of the whip biting into her skin, slicing into her until the flesh of her back turned to ribbons.

"What?" Dom asked horrified she couldn't mean what he thought she meant.

"He said he'd read it in a book; Cristo something. He said that every year on my birthday he'd whip me to remind me of the crime that I've committed." Dom wanted to puke.

"Alex, how old were you?"

"It started on my eighth birthday." She said so quietly Dom could barely hear her. Dom was the one trembling now. He was so angry he wanted to take a crowbar to this man's head.

"Eight! You were eight?" Dom was trying to keep the rage out of his voice, he didn't want to scare her, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. "What crime could you have committed at the age of eight?" Silence filled the room and Dom thought she was going to remain quiet as usual, but as Alex took as shaky breath Dom knew he was going to get more information from her.

"I killed my mother." It was quiet again after Alex's whispered confession. She held her breath and waited for Dom's hatred. She knew she'd be cast out now, she knew he'd loath her as much as the man that hurt her.

"Did she hurt you too?" Dom asked quietly. Alex pulled back and looked at Dom in horror.

"No, I never knew her. I killed her before I could." Alex's voice caught it her throat and Dom pulled her back to him. "The only thing she'd ever done is give birth to me."

"She died in childbirth?" Alex could only nod to Dom's question. "Alex, baby, you didn't kill anyone!" Alex pulled back and looked at Dom furrowing her brows. "Alex, sometimes bad things happen and there's complications when a woman goes into labor. It's nothing that you did."

"But he said-"

"I don't care what he told you, he's a liar!" Dom cut her off. "Alex," he said looking down into her eyes. "Your mother died, but that doesn't mean you killed her." Alex shook her head knowing that Dom was wrong, knowing that she was the one that killed her mother. "Baby, you would never hurt anyone, right?"

"No," She said adamantly shaking her head, and then as if remembering something she said with less conviction "I'm not bad." She shook her head.

"I know, you're good. You didn't kill you mother, okay?" Alex nodded her head but Dom knew she didn't believe him.

"You've had a long day." Dom said picking her up and tucking her in gently. "Why don't you get some sleep?" He turned on the nightlight and turned to go out the door.

"Dom, wait!" Dom turned back to Alex noticing that the girl was shaking again.

"Do you want me to leave the door open?" Dom asked when Alex failed to say anything. She shook her head.

"I don't want to be alone." She said softly, her voice cracking.

"Do you want me to have Mia or Letty come stay the night with you?" Again Alex shook her head.

"They don't make me feel safe, not like you." Dom froze understanding what Alex wanted. He watched her bite her lip nearly begging him to stay with her. He gave a small nod.

"I'm going to get some clothes, you should change into some pajamas, okay?" Alex nodded getting out of bed and walking to her drawers. Dom noticed that she still had a bit of wobble to her but she could walk on her own. Once Dom saw that Alex would be safe he switched on the light and closed her door most of the way.

Dom walked back to his room throwing on a pair of sweats thinking over everything that Alex had told him. She blamed herself for her mother's death. She was tortured because of her "crimes" and it all started at the young age of eight. Dom thought back to Mia at the age of eight, she was so young, carefree, and innocent. How could anyone ever want to hurt a child?

Dom knocked on the door and Alex was already back in bed. "You sure about this, Alex?" Dom asked before getting into the other side of the bed. Alex nodded gently, to be honest this was one of the few things she was sure about.

Dom crawled in next to her and she turned to face him. "Thank you, Dom." She whispered.

"You're welcome, Alexis. Now go to sleep." Alex nodded and obediently closed her eyes and snuggled into the pillow. It didn't take her long to fall asleep, she was exhausted from her emotional day. Dom watched as Alex's lips parted and her breathing steadied. Dom wished that he could find sleep so easily, instead he couldn't help but stare at her. She really had become beautiful, and Dom didn't know when it had happened. When did she go from a malnourish girl who would shy away from anyone to this lovely woman that would stare down a man three times her size? And she actually invited him to bed, well she couldn't say it but still, she said she felt safe around him.

He reached out and put a stray hair behind her ears to which she gave a sleepy smile and moved closer to him. He gently reached over and pulled her closer so he could wrap his arms around her and she gave a soft satisfied sigh. And with this girl in his arms he finally found solace, and rest.

Well, there's chapter 7. I hope everyone liked it! If you did, please review. Those reviews really mean the world to me! J

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You guys are amazing and you really make me want to keep writing, so thank you again! Until next time.