"DOM! Slow down or you're gonna kill someone!" I laughed. We were somewhere in Nevada, about to cross into Arizona, and Dom was doing about 100. We were in Dom's RX-8…and he wanted to "warm-up" the engine, seeing how he'd just re-built it with Jesse.

"Come on, we've gone WAY faster than this in the Skyline."

"Yeah, but I was racing or practicing…not driving cross-country."

"But it's a desert road!" he whined. I gave him a look, and he sighed. He slowed down to about 98 and looked over at me. "We're stopping in what city for the night?"

"Seligman…it's about 120 miles from Vegas, and if you do a clean 100 like you want, we'll get there in an hour." I sighed, rolling my eyes.

He did 100 all the way there. We pulled into the tiny town where there was only a small bed and breakfast. We got a room and went up to it.

"This is…small." Dom said. I laughed because the tub in our room was just big enough for ME to fit in.

"Aw Dom…I'm sorry, I didn't remember how small this place was…I stopped here when I first came to LA." I smiled.

"You suck, you know that, right?"

"Uh, yeah, kinda." I teased. I took a bath and then changed into a spaghetti strapped shirt that stopped right above my navel and a pair of boxers.

I laughed and watched as Dom tried to take a shower when the shower head came up to his neck. I giggled to myself and dived under the covers to try and silence my laughter.

It didn't work…Dom heard me laughing when he came out of the shower clad in a towel.

"And just what do you think you're laughing at?" he said, smirking at me.

"You looked like a giant taking a shower in a dollhouse!" I shrieked, laughing at the same time.

"You were watching me in the shower?"

"Maybe," I smiled coyly.

"Maybe…" he mimicked me, diving on the bed. We started wrestling until I noticed something wrong.

"Uh Dom?"

"What?" he said, straddling me.

"Your towel is missing…and you're now naked…"

"So, what's your point?" he teased.

"I DON'T WANT YOU NAKED!" I laughed. "DOMINIC JARRETT TORETTO, PUT THAT THING AWAY!"

"My thing? Honestly, I thought we were past high school terminology…" he laughed. He got out of bed and went through his bag. Then, he found a pair of boxers and slid them on. "Happy now?"

"Yes, very."

Dom climbed back into bed and opened his arms. I happily accepted his invitation and curled myself in his arms. I fell asleep almost instantly…I'd never done that in anyone's arms other than my father's.

DOM'S POV

Man, there's something about this girl that I can't get enough of. The way she makes me feel is indescribable. I mean, I don't know if I love her yet, but I do think that I'd want to do any and everything in my power to make sure that she's happy and safe. I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure that she isn't in any pain…mentally or physically. I pulled her tighter against my chest and kissed the top of her head. She just stirred a little bit, smiled a little and cuddled into me a little bit more.

"Night Baby Doll, I…I think…I think I love you." I said quietly, before turning off the light and falling asleep myself.


"No…Mattie, Help me! Daddy! Mattie, somebody! Rome, Daddy…No don't! Mattie, Daddy…Dom…"

I woke up to feel Ari trembling in my arms. When I heard her call my name out to help her, I wanted to literally save her from whatever was scaring her. I stroked her hair and wiped the sweat out of her face.

"Baby Doll…wake up girl, come on and get up for me." I murmured, shaking her a little. Ari's eyes sprang open and she started breathing like she'd run a marathon.

"Dom?" she said, shakily.

"Yeah baby doll, I'm right here." I said as she threw her arms around my neck. I pulled her close to me and I stroked her hair while she cried.

"I'm sorry…" she said, wiping her eyes.

"For what?" I said, looking at her confused.

"For waking you up…I mean, I should have these nightmares under control by now, but it's just…nights like this, brings back memories…"

"What kind of nights?"

"Really hot muggy nights…when the only true way you can possibly sleep is when you're in your underwear or less…and you're still sweating unless you have Central Air; nights in July and August, Sometimes even late June. They remind me of…never mind, I'll let you go back to sleep." She said, shivering a little and standing up out of bed. She pulled her spaghetti strap up on her shoulder and opened the window, sitting on the windowsill.

"Ari, you can tell me. You can tell me anything, you know that."

"I know, it's just…I know it'll make you look at me differently…I mean, my whole past…I, I don't want you to look at me any differently." She said quietly, not even looking at me. "I haven't even told Mi yet, and I've been living with her for almost 6 months now."

"I just want to be there for you. And so you know, nothing you could tell me could make me look at you any different than I already do. You made it through so much…and I know that you've come out the other side for the better. You can tell me…it's alright." I said, putting my arms around her.

"Are you sure you want to know?" she said, looking up at him.

"Only if you want to tell me…I'd never make you do something you didn't want to."

"Well, then I'll tell you some other time…I'm going to tell you, just not tonight…" she said. I looked at the clock and sighed.

"Baby Doll, its 3:18 in the morning…let's get some shut eye, then get back on the road early, what do you say?" I said, scratching my stomach.

"Okay…Dom?"

"Hmm?" I said, climbing into bed.

"Did you mean it?"

"Did I mean what?"

"When you said that you loved me…"

She heard me? OH SHIT…I think I do…I mean, I don't I've only been dating her for a few months…you're not supposed to love someone after so little time….but then again, mom said you'd fall in love straight away…what am I gonna tell her…Toretto, tell her the truth!"

"Yeah, I did…Ari I think I do Love you."

"Dom, I think….I think I love you too…" she said, giving me a kiss that I gladly returned. I pulled her as tight against me as I could and covered her with the blanket. She was asleep before I could even turn off the light.


I woke up smiling the next morning…it was a good feeling, just lying there in Dom's arms. I could actually and honestly say that I loved Dom. I never thought I'd be able to say that about anyone again…not after what Shelton did to me. I was happy and over Shelton finally. No one could tell me that I wasn't happy at this point because me and Dom were solid. I slid on some low rise jeans and one of my black tank tops with one of Dom's numerous Dickey shirts that I'd taken out of his bag. Then I did a stage dive on the bed laughing when Dom jerked awake.

"Morning." I smiled.

"Did you honestly HAVE to do that?" he sighed.

"Do you honestly need an answer to that?" I asked.

"Please tell me how you became such a brat at the age of 21?"

"Ask Matt, I've been one my whole life…this is nothing new." I teased. Dom kissed me then went into the bathroom. When he came out, we paid for our room, and left the small town behind us, me behind the wheel of the 8. I tore out and got back on the road…I was anxious to see the twins…their birthday was in four days, and I needed to get all the way across the country by then. I was happy to be going back to the East Coast. I already knew the twins were going to have a party to celebrate their big 8, and that Daddy, Randy, Mom and Matt were going to be there, as well as Rome and Leon, who I hadn't seen in almost a year and a half. What pained me was that Shelton was going to be there as well…the twins' birthday landed on a Friday…an off day, DAMNINT.

"What's on your mind?" Dom asked about two hours into the drive…it was the longest he'd ever heard me be quiet.

"I guess I'm just worried about seeing Shelton again…or more like Rome, Matt, Leon, and Shelton in the same room…and now you…I may not love him anymore, but the twins don't want to see their dad get killed. And Kai wouldn't be able to take care of them without the help that Shelton gives her on his days off…she's only 20!" I sighed.

"I understand…and if he doesn't say anything to me, I won't hurt him. But I can't make any promises on that…I have been known to have a temper."

"YOU have a temper? But you're so level headed at the house." I mused.

"Remember that night at races with Edwin?"

"Yeah, but – "

"Girl that was nothing…see, I was 18…and Mimi was about 15. Our dad was coming up in the NIRA circuit. It was the last race of the season, and Dad got clipped by this guy named Kevin Linder; sent him into the wall at over 120."

"Dom…I'm so sorry…" I whispered.

"He died on impact, they say, but I heard him screaming as he burned to death. About two weeks later, I saw him. And I had…a socket wrench in my hand. And I only meant to hit him once, but…by the time I was finished, I couldn't lift my arm…I did two years at Lompoc for attempted murder and I was banned from the tracks for life. Linder…he's a janitor at a school gym now." Dom looked out the window. He was quiet for a while, and I sat and thought about what he'd just told me.

That's why he races; to be closer to his dad. I thought it was for the money, but he does it because it makes him feel like his dad's right there in the car…though I'm sure the money's a plus. I thought.

"Penny for your thoughts." Dom said, looking over at me.

"I was just thinking about how this is probably WHY you race…like, I'm going to school to become a social worker to keep kids from ending up like me…you're racing to help yourself feel whole…to feel closer with your dad."

"You understand." He smiled.

"Yeah."

"Wait…what do your mean 'like you'? Did something happen to you?" Dom asked. I looked over at him and then pulled over to the side of the road.

"Ye- yes…something DID happen to me. I got put in the orphanage when I was just about to turn 5. everything was alright at first…if you don't count them beating and starving me and Matty…but when I was six, about to turn seven…I…I was beaten and raped for a little over thirty days every night. I…I was usually unconscious when he did what he did, but the last night…I wasn't. He kept me conscious." I said, starting to wring my hands.

"Ari…"

"Matty tried to save me, but being 10 years old, it wasn't much that he could do. Anyway, when Dad adopted me, I thought that I'd never see him again…but, About five or six years ago, Shane-o hired him as the Head of Security in the WWE, and that's part of the reason I left…I could barely concentrate on what I had to do without having him in the back of my mind. That's why I wanted to go back to school…so I could try to save or even prevent a case like mine and Matty's."

"Ari, I never heard of someone going through anything so fucked up…and come out on the other side so together, so calm, so happy ."

"Believe me, it took about three or four years before I'd even leave my dad or Matty's side. I still have nightmares about it…that's what I'm always screaming about in my sleep." I explained, tears finding their way down my cheeks.

"What's wrong with that? You're a strong girl…but that doesn't make you invincible or immortal. There's nothing wrong with you crying; you're only human."

"Thanks Dom…I appreciate that. I think I needed to talk about it, I haven't talked about it in a while."

"That's what a boyfriend's for…" he said. I smiled as he opened his arms for a hug. I accepted and melted in his arms. Dom kissed my forehead and held me tight.

"Want me to drive?" he said.

"If you want…" I said in a small voice. I felt a little drained from talking about my past. We switched seats and I curled up in the passenger's seat. We were passing into Texas and were some where near Amarillo when Dom decided to pull over to a hotel. This one was a little nicer to stay in…seeing how the shower was actually high enough for Dom to stand in. It was also air-conditioned. I slept soundly through the night.


I never thought something like that happened to my Baby Doll…when she told me, I wanted to immediately beat the shit out of whoever did that to her…I cared about her WAY too much to want to see her cry. I hugged her a little tighter and smiled to myself when she cuddled into me a little more.

When I woke up the next day, Ari was in the bathroom brushing her hair.

"Why is it I can never wake up before you?" I complained.

"I dunno…I'm a naturally early riser, as long as you don't try to wake me up." She shrugged, pulling her hair into a pony tail.

"Alright woman, out of the bathroom…I gotta go." I laughed.

"Don't call me woman." She pouted.

"You're so cute when you pout…now out."

"Hey…that rhymed!" she laughed as I pushed her out of the bathroom.

"I can't watch?" she joked.

"If you really wanna watch me shower." I sighed, closing the door. I took a quick shower to wake myself up and then quickly got dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a wife beater. I opened the door again when I heard Ari complaining about her needing to put her makeup on. I started shaving my head, seeing how I was starting to get a little bit of fuzz and then shaved my face because of the same result. Ari was putting on some type of junk on her eyes with a pencil.

"How the hell do you do that?" I said amazed.

"Do what?" she said, not even blinking.

"Draw on the bottom of your eye like that."

"Its eyeliner…it's just something most women can do…"

"But you can do it without stabbing yourself in the eye…you've got steady hands." I smirked.

"Whatever Dominic." she giggled. I walked out of the bathroom and into the main room. I started to pack things up and I noticed a blue and black book on the bed. I opened it and saw Ari's handwriting.

Well, I've been in LA for about three months now…and I have to say that I've finally made some friends. (Aside from Mi of course.) Mia invited me to hang with her this weekend at her house and it was actually a lot of fun. She has the coolest family.

There's Letty who is the second coolest chick I've ever met…Aims being the first of course. She's really cool and she's protective of her family…I've gotta figure out why though.

Next there's Vince…the closest thing to a teddy bear I've had since Uncle Mark. He's really rough on the outside, but once you get to know him, he's a COMPLETE softie! I absolutely LOVE V!

Brian's the cool guy. He's one of those big brother types…he reminds me of Rome; like he would go to the ends of the earth to help you out or something…he's my replacement Matt while I'm out here.

Leon…is a true NUT! He's the person that I feel the closest to…I think it's the eyes…they're a lot like mine. There's no doubt about it that I feel something close to Leon…but he's the Cool guy. Think...a level-headed, hip-hopped Adam with short hair and a toothpick in his mouth and you've got Le. I absolutely love Leon.

Jesse…oh lord, Jesse. He's like, the little brother I've never had! He reminds me of a younger Jeffers and I love him for that…he has ADHD, but when he's playing video games or working on cars, you can't tell! He's a complete weirdo. He's the coolest guy in the world!

Finally, there's Dominic. Dominic is the coolest guy I've ever met…he's completely different than Shelton. He's really straight forward, and he pretty much made out with me in front of over 500 people then declared me his girl! (Not that I'm complaining!) Dom's fine…I mean FINE! He's tall…about the height of Uncle Wayne or Randy…but he's built like Uncle Dave. He's bald…something that's different for me because I usually go for fades or braids… (Lamar)…and the best thing is his smile. He's got this smile that makes it seems like he knows something you don't…it reminds me a lot of dad's smile…wide, but slightly crooked and he's got a dimple! I love dimples. But I think that he's a cool guy. He's one hell of a racer…hell, all of them are. I had a nightmare about the orphanage, and Dom came in and checked on me. It was so sweet. He helped take care of me, and he offered to stay until I fell asleep…I didn't want to keep him from his sleep, so I let him go back to bed.

The thing that pissed me off…SHELTON! He got Rome fired from his ring crew job, and it almost cost him his other job that you'll find out about later! Shelton was talking shit about me to Carmella… (The whore) saying that I wasn't anything on his mind anymore and I wasn't shit. Rome overheard and kicked his ass. Busted my knuckles on the bag again…that pissed me off. I met this fan that nearly made me cry…she said she wanted to be just like her. I smile every time I think about her.

Dom took me on a date. It was fun…I got a tattoo…it's cool. It's in black ink and in a cursive script on my lower back and it says 'Todo para la familia'...the saying that got me going. After Dom and me got back to the house with the others, they took me to races. It was one hell of a sight... people, cars, music, so many things to look at! Dom, Letty, V, and Brian all raced and won! This guy named…Edgar, no, Edwin tried to hit on me and talk trash on Dom, who completely OWNED his ass in a race. WE got crashed by the cops and had to pretty much fly back to Dom's house. I somehow kept up with Letty and Leon while they sped there. Races are a blast…I have to get Rome, Jeff and Amy to one…I know they'd love it. And AJ…he'd just come for the whores that run around. Matt and Christy might like it, but they're more into the party that takes place after. (I have no clue what happened at the party at Dom's house…I just remember my favorite guys: Johnny Black, Johnny Red, Jack, and Jose.) I sounded like such an alcoholic!

ANYWAY, I found out something really interesting! ROME IS IN THE WWE! And The WWE is coming to LA! AND Uncle Wayne's retiring…that makes me kind of sad…but he had a hell of a career. I just found out that Dad's retiring too and he's opening a school…a wrestling school. I'm so there whenever he needs me.

I got a new nickname…Dom gave it to me. I like it…Doll face.

I'm sleepy now…this was a long entry.

ANC

I smiled to myself…she was happy hanging with us. I put the book in her bag and kept cleaning the room.

"Ready to go?" Ari's voice floated into the room from the bathroom.

"Yeah, whenever you are." I said smiling.

We got in the car and kept going towards South Carolina.

A/N: There it is...i finally have a new chapter after what...three weeks? It took me long enough, i know...but there it is, Chapter 7. Now, the review button is lonely and wants to be clicked...so...click the button that says 'ok' on it!

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