Author: Moon Roses or Moony
Rating: R for language
Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Baby Got Back belongs to Sir Mix A-lot.
Feedback: Not necessary but greatly appreciated.
Recap: "Yeah, that's right. I'll see you later though. Tell V and Lett to holla?" Shorty stood and gave him a quick slap across the head for ever believing she would lose to an Integra. "See you Leon."

Chapter Nine

A month later...

Shorty was still working hard on her sketches and the more she completed the more business the garage received. She was working all the time now it seemed. Always in or under a car throughout the day her nights consisted of sitting at her desk drawing out the racers orders. She never realized how many damn people could want decals, let alone her decals. Although she was constantly working on them she had no problems taking the tips she was given. However, she did have a problem with not seeing Vince or Letty as often as she wanted. She had even had to cancel drinks with Spence and his crew.

Luckily she had decided to take Wednesday night off the week prior to go to a neighbourhood pub with Vince. While they had been eating Spence walked in with his team and a tiny pregnant woman. She had chatted with them for a few minutes much to Vince's dislike. When they had finished dinner Shorty had forced Vince into a game of pool against Spence and Levis. She was introduced to Spence's girlfriend Jamie who had heard from the boys about "this broad from the races who's pretty bad ass." She had talked a while longer with the group before Vince's stony silence killed her mood and they retreated back to the Toretto house to watch a flick.

Shorty had asked Vince why he and Hector had such a problem with Spence and his crew. So what if they were a little rough around the edges? Wasn't she herself full of jagged rips and tears? Sure, they were involved in some heavy stuff but that didn't make them bad people. It made them survivors. It wasn't like Hector was clear from shady business. Hell, even the Toretto crew had pulled a few shady heists in their time. She had assured Vince that she would not participate in any of Spence's illegal activities but explained that she had no beef with them. She would spend time with them if she so chose to.

Her phone ringing grabbed her attention from her sketchbook. Leaning over her bed she snatched it from the night table, "Hola?" she said answering the phone. Letty's laughter exploded loudly in her ear and she held the phone from her face until she heard scuffling through the earpiece.

"Shorty girl. What're you doin?" Leon asked her as Letty called for the phone back in the background.

"Myself. What you want?" Picking up two different shades of green she coloured in the palm trees on her paper. The racer, who had wanted this sketch, was an environmental freak. She'd asked for forests along the doors. Try figuring out how a girl who obsessed about the environment could drive her car everywhere, which in turn only added to the problem. Environmentalist her ass.

"Well, I gotta to give you credit girl. You sure do come clean quick."

"What can I say? I'm a good fuck."

Leon laughed, "I bet you are, what's the team doin' tonight?" In the background Letty's voice rang load and clear as she threatened Leon with a "nut shot if he did not return the fuckin phone." Shorty laughed when she heard Leon throw the phone to Letty and yell "Later girl."

"So Miss Shorty, what you doin' tonight?

"Nada. You?"

"I'm hungry. Come get me."

Stifling a laugh Shorty replied "You're always hungry, babe. Where you want to eat?"

"I don't care, Dom's bein' an ass and I wanna get some grub".

"Yeah ok. I'll grab you in twenty. Tell V to come?" she asked as she hopped off the bed and searched through her hamper for some jeans.

"He's got a woman over, boo. They're "watching a movie"."

"I know what that means," she laughed. "Ok, I'll swing by in twenty". Hanging up the phone she pulled on her cleanest jeans and went upstairs to let Hector know she was going out.

Shorty returned a few hours later full from Mexican and ready for bed. When she entered the house she found her team reclining around the TV watching an old horror movie. "I invited the DT team for a BBQ tomorrow night. You guys cool with it?" Five nodding heads gave her the answer she wanted. "Awesome, they'll be over around seven. I'm gonna crash. Night brother," she replied placing a kiss on his bald head.

Falling into bed she fell asleep almost immediately, worrying about the workload tomorrow at the garage. Not only was she scheduled to work on an Eclipse, Skyline, and Challenger, she also had to meet with a client and go over her sketches. If they were satisfactory she would be putting the decals on tomorrow. She had one long day ahead of her. Beto sure as hell better offer to make her his special fajitas or she would have to trick him into it.

Thursday at the garage could not have gone slower or worse for her. First the owner of the Skyline brought it in an hour late. She dropped a torque wrench on her foot, stubbed her toe later on, and amongst all that she also received a paper cut. Adding insult to injury the client she had to meet with had told her she had shit for brains and could not draw much better. He demanded that the garage repay him for the time he had wasted waiting on Shorty to finish his order when he could have been looking for a real artist. So, in a bad mood, with an annoying paper cut, stubbed toe, and crushed foot, she had had enough. She had hauled off and knocked him out. Marvin quickly picked her up off her feet and deposited her in her car demanding she go home.

When the team walked in later that day Shorty was sitting cross-legged on the couch with a beer watching Judge Judy. Every last one of them collapsed beside her and let out a grateful sigh. Smirking at them she raised an eyebrow "Hard day at work?"

They groaned at her and explained that the racer she had knocked out had wanted to press charges. Hector had threatened him with the promise of never racing in L.A. again. When the threat fell through Hector called Dom and put him on the speaker phone so he could say the same thing. Finally Dom convinced the guy not to press charges and he had left in a huff, with a huge black bruise on his face.

"Beto?" Shorty whined his name in her best baby voice, then batted pretty eyes at him. "What's for dinner?" The team laughed when they saw him turn his head away as quick as possible, so as not to be sucked into her begging. Climbing into his lap she wrapped her arms around his neck and whimpered, her bottom lip quivering. "Beto, will you please make me some fajitas? Pleaaase?"

His resolve broke and he muttered something unintelligible under his breath. Kissing him on the cheek she crawled off his lap and grinned to herself. Works every time. Shorty sat with the team for another hour before she was bored of televison. Stretching her legs she stood up and left the men to watch the Mets game. Passing Beto in the kitchen getting the dinner ready she snatched a handful of sliced red peppers before going to her bedroom. Changing into a white bikini and throwing on baggy sweatpants she grabbed her sketchbook and went to lie in the sun beside the pool.

Hector, Marvin and Pedro came out soon after and jumped in the pool, yelling and screaming, each trying to drown the other. Within twenty minutes Miguel was in the pool joining in the fun. Shorty was spread out on her stomach on a lawn chair sun tanning while she drew. She had long ago blocked out the screaming to concentrate on drawing, so when she was thrown over a shoulder she was shocked. But she was never shocked for more than a few seconds and right way she began struggling against her attacker. Kicking her feet savagely she felt him lift her off his shoulder and throw her into the pool.

Shorty broke the surface shivering, covered in goose pimples to the sound of roaring laughter. Beto was standing there smug as can be, with a dishtowel hanging from his pocket. "Oh hell no!" she shouted and jumped out of the pool chasing him into the house. She was dripping wet, hair matted to her face, trying to follow him through the kitchen. Instead she seemed to stay in place as she slipped and slid across the linoleum. Slowing down long enough to catch a whiff of the fajitas she sped after him up the stairs until he raced into the bathroom and locked the door. Teeth chattering she pounded on the door "Open up Beto. Homes can't hide in there forever."

"Maybe not chica, but I can try," he laughed and she heard him put the toilet seat down and sit. He actually planned on hiding in there? How was the dinner going to get cooked then? Dropping to the floor she lay next to the door and stuck her fingers under the crack. Drumming them along the floor she whistled the slasher theme from Jaws, warning him of her revenge. She heard him groan uneasily and she sat up satisfied. He knew she would get him back.

Standing up she opened the closet and took out a bunch of towels for everyone once they got out of the pool. As she tucked them under her arms the doorbell rang and she bellowed form the top of the stairs "Come in!" The door remained shut and she groaned loudly. "Damn it." She flung the door open and swore up a storm in Spanish when she dropped the towels.

"Damn. You gonna greet me like this next time too?" Jesse laughed and stooped to help retrieve the fallen towels.

"Nah. Next time I'll be naked dripping in chocolate," she winked and took the towels from Jesse leading them through the house to the backyard.

Dropping the towels onto a nearby chair she touched fists with everyone and went to lie back down in the sun to warm up. Letty practically jumped in the pool fully clothed with the rest of the DT team not far behind. Picking up her sketchbook she flipped to a new page and drew freely as she watched her family and friends muck around in the pool. She could see Beto peeking out the patio doors but chose to ignore him until the moment was right. She would need to conserve her energy for this.

When she was sure he had gone back to preparing the food she put her sketchbook down and got up. Sneaking over to the patio doors she motioned for everyone to continue whatever they were doing. Sliding through the open door she saw him bobbing his head to music and grating cheese. Stealthily sneaking up behind him she grabbed his waist, spun him around, and grunting hauled him onto her shoulder. She rushed out the door stooping under his weight and chucked him the pool. "Payback's a bitch, darling," she shouted when he surfaced spitting water from his mouth and shaking his head.

Swearing under his breath he hopped out of the pool. His clothes clung to his body and water glistened on his bald head. He grabbed a towel off the chair and went back into the house to change into dry clothes.

Sitting on the side of the pool she dangled her feet in the water and watched as the guys threw Mia and Letty through the air. Leaning back she gazed at everyone. It was good to be home. She did not really miss New York all that much now that she had her family back. She had even made new friends, whom, although only knowing for little over a month had become quiet attached to. She was even attached to Dom and he still distrusted her. Not that she could blame him, after all, the last person he had let into his family had turned out to be a cop.

Vince had told her one night about all that had gone down and exactly how he had gotten the jagged scars all along his arm. He had been quiet for the rest of the night, so she had slept over, tracing the scars with her fingers until he fell asleep. The man refused to tell his family but he still had vivid nightmares that frightened him and left him shaking for the rest of the night. Shorty had listened intently as he told her he was thankful for Brian saving his life, and not narking on them to the authorities. The team never talked about the heists or about how they all thought they had lost Jesse when the Trans had shot him. They just figured the past was better left unsaid.

"What you thinkin' bout?" Leon asked as he pulled himself out of the pool and sat beside her.

Shorty looked at him and could not help but notice what a nice body he had. All tight, toned and completely tanned from hours spent working under the sun. Shifting her gaze to Vince she shrugged "Not much."

He followed her gaze back to Vince "You've been good for him you know."

"Mhmm."

"Really. He's been different since he met you. He's calmer now, and he smiles a lot," Leon said as he nudged her.

"I'm glad. If anyone deserves to be happy it's V," Shorty replied softly.

Clearing his throat uncomfortably Leon looked at Vince as well. "You know, he thinks we don't know about his nightmares, but me and Jess do." Leon looked down at his hands and played with the seam of his swim trunks. "When he has them... he's loud and calling for Dominic."

"I know about the heists Leon. Vince told me," Shorty whispered and cocked her head to the side to look at him. "It ain't your fault. You know he doesn't blame you for what happened. Right?"

"Yeah, I don't know... I just feel guilty. You know? That we all didn't trust his gut when he said the buster was a cop."

"Aye, come on Leon. Don't even trip," Shorty said and pushed him gently. "V doesn't blame you for not believin' him about the buster and he doesn't blame you for not gettin' him off the truck. He knows you tried. And it sure as hell ain't your fault that Brian has some crazy acrobatic skills and can manoeuvre a huge man off a moving semi."

"I know," Leon said and smiled before pushing Shorty off the edge and into the pool. He jumped in after her, picked her up and chucked her to Vince who chucked her to Dom. Soon she was hysterics, throat full of chlorine water as a game of pass the Shorty got under way.

When Beto turned off the BBQ and put the last of the burgers on the plates everyone jumped out of the pool and wrapped a towel around their waists. Piling their plates high with food and sitting down at the large patio table Shorty grinned "I got this one fella's." Bowing her head she waited until everyone had done the same. "Thank you Lord for my family. As annoyin' and over protective as they are; I love 'em. And thanks for my talent in making the 'pretty face' it gets me whatever I want. Mad props to you for that one Big Guy. Oh, and thanks for friends, new and old. Take care and holla at mi papi y mi mami. Tell 'em me and the boys miss 'em." She was Catholic but far from religious. If her father were there he would have forced them to pray, so she willingly did it just to make him proud.

"That's right," Hector said before digging into his food like a bulldozer gone mad.

The two teams ate, drank, and joked around with each other until the sun went down. Moving into the house, they decided to watch a movie and then spent a good thirty minutes fighting over what one. Finally after tons of begging; Letty and Shorty convinced everyone to watch Road Trip. A good clean comedy. Claiming a corner seat on the big couch she quickly ran to the backyard to get her art supplies. Collapsing on the couch next to Jesse she opened her sketchbook in the darkened room. Shorty watched the movie for a while before it bored her, and pulling a pencil from between the coils she drew.

Vince shifting uncomfortably on the floor in front of her encouraged her to give up her pillow so he could sit on it. Placing her legs on his shoulders she went back to drawing, only glancing up to get the right positioning of Dom and Letty as they curled up together in an over sized chair in the corner. When the snake attacked Tom Green the two of them shook with laughter and Shorty sketched as fast as she could to capture the moment. They made such a cute couple, and great subjects to draw. Both beautiful, both oblivious that she was sketching them.

"I'm gonna get some grub. Anyone want anything?" She asked when her stomach growled at her unhappily.

"Jesus girl. You're a fuckin' garbage disposal," Dom laughed when he heard her. "You ate half of everything on the table at dinner."

"So is that a no then?" Shorty snorted at him. Loud voices rang out and she was bombarded with demands.

"Popcorn."

"Bacon."

"Steak and potatoes."

"BEER!"

Laughing she left the living room and went to find something to eat. Popping a bag of popcorn into the microwave she pressed start. Dumping some Doritos and dill pickle chips into separate bowls, she crossed to the fridge and pulled out beers for everyone.

"Need some help?" Shorty looked up to find Leon leaning against the doorframe smiling. She nodded before looking in the fridge for left over fajitas. When the microwave beeped at her declaring itself done she switched the popcorn for the fajitas and started it again. Pouring the popcorn into another bowl she set it down and hopped on the counter to wait for her second dinner. "So, what were you drawing?"

"What?"

"You were drawing a few minutes ago weren't you? What was it?"

"Not that it's any of your business but it was Letty and Dom," she teased him. So Leon had been watching her draw. Interesting. Filing this information in the back of her brain for later investigation she jumped off the counter and retrieved her food from the microwave. "Here, take these." Handing Leon two bowls and a few beers she took her plate and the rest of the beers and chips and lead the way back to the living room. "Thanks big guy."

"Anytime," he whispered in her ear, closer to her then she had thought.

Placing the beer and munchies on the table she reclaimed her seat next to Jesse who tried to steal a bite of her fajita. Slapping his hand away she took a large bite and grinned at him. "Don't bother Jess. Shorty never shares her fajitas with anyone," Hector laughed when he witnessed the exchange between the two.

She nodded at Jesse and turned her attention back to the movie, savouring every last bite. She grinned to herself trying to think of a way she could sucker Beto into making her Lasagne tomorrow night. When she finished her food she set the plate on the table and grabbed her beer. Swigging back half the beer she placed it between her legs and pulled her sketchbook back into her lap. Glancing at Leon she found him watching the movie laughing along with everyone else.

Drawing the outline she focused on his eyes the most, making sure to include the way they crinkled slightly when he smiled. She shaded in the contours of his face, replicating the shadows that were cast across his skin from the light of the TV screen. When she glanced over at him again he was watching her draw. He winked at her and leaned back in his seat and stuck a pose. Shorty flipped to a new page and drew him as he was, cocky grin on his mouth, one arm behind his head, and other hand resting on his belly.

His eyes floated back and forth from the television to her drawing him and when she showed him the rough sketch across the dark room he smiled and gave her a thumbs up. Standing up she closed her book and stretched lazily. "Well, I'm off to bed. V holla at me later aye?

"Tomorrow? Night," he said and squeezed her leg as she stepped over him.

Kissing Hector on the cheek she nodded at everyone else. "Night boo," Letty said as she passed her on the way to the kitchen.

"Night Lett."

Shutting her bedroom door behind her she turned on her music softly and changed into boxers and a tank top before falling into her bed and pulling the duvet around her chin. Staring at the ceiling she grinned to herself before sighing and turning onto her side. Green eyes lingering in her thoughts, and later in her dreams when she fell asleep.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! And if so, let me know in a review. If you didn't like it, well I'd like to know that as well. Tell me what I can improve on.

Thanks again to the few who did review. You make my ego swell a little each time! Shouts out's to Jarnac50, JasmineChyanne, and Love Ink. You guys are the best!