A/N: I'm glad you guys liked Letty's parents. I feel like every story I read out there makes her out to be a victim of abuse or a bad family life (and I'm even guilty of it, myself). So, I decided to change that. (: Now, onto Dom's crazy family.

All mistakes are mine.

Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Meet The Torettos

Sunday, Toretto Compound, 1:23PM

Before Letty could even raise her fist to knock, she heard laughter and music coming from around the back of the house. She could smell the barbecue and her mouth started to water. So, the brunette brought her fist down and walked down the porch steps and rounded the side of the brick house. She was greeted by at least two dozen people sitting or standing around while eating or drinking. Most were conversing with others and Letty found herself immediately looking around for Dominic. Admittedly, she would feel a lot safer once she did spot him.

There he was at the grill; beer in one hand, metal grille fork in the other. Vince had just brought out another heavy-duty aluminum pan of raw meat to be cooked before taking the grille fork from Dom. He waved the taller man away and took over. When Dom turned, he locked eyes with Letty and a genuine smile graced his features. He waved her over and she started towards him, only to be intercepted by Mia.

"Okay, three quick things you should know." The younger Toretto spoke so quickly, Letty could barely keep up. "One, my mother and father showed up out of the blue today, so I don't want you to feel any pressure to meet them. And I don't want you to think that Dom invited them so that you could meet them and put any undue pressure on your... relationship."

Letty nodded seriously before asking, "Okay, what are the other things I should know?"

"Number two is that everything here is either red meat or chicken. So, if you're a vegetarian, tell me now and I can run and get you some veggie burgers or something."

Letty shook her head. "And what's number three?"

Mia's face suddenly went from concerned to sweet and warm. "Have fun!"

"Gee thanks." Letty chuckled. Mia moved away to talk to some other guests and Letty made her way over to Dominic. He pulled her into an embrace and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"So, my mother-.'

"And father are here. And you didn't invite them but you don't want me to feel pressured to meet them or put any strain on the already fragile beginning stages of our courtship. Got it." Letty finished for him.

"Damn, my sister is good." Dom laughed.

"That she is." Letty agreed. It was then that she realized their arms were still around each other's waists, hers under his, and it felt extremely... comfortable. She blindly reached behind her and Dom got the hint, handing her the half-finished beer. It was still cold when she drank from it.

Looking up at Dom, there was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing. It's just strange how you went from hating my guys to drinking off my beer."

"I didn't hate your guts. I hated your arrogance. And that still hasn't changed." Letty said, pointed a finger at him. Dom smiled.

"Yeah, well. We all have our downfalls, Letty. Mine is that I'm just too good looking."

Letty scoffed and removed her arm from around Dom's waist but didn't leave the close proximity they shared. Dom only grinned and grabbed her hand.

"Come on. There are some friends that I want you to meet."

For the next hour, Letty found herself meeting some of Dom's friends and neighbors, most of whom he'd known all of his life. It seemed that she'd enchanted all of the people she met, and Dominic was constantly told so.

Eventually, they tired of not having time alone so they made plates of food and headed into the house to sit at the dining room table. Dom at the head and Letty immediately on his right. They picked at their food, too engrossed in conversation to care about their grumbling stomachs.

"Well, it's been an hour and you've managed to keep me away from your parents." Letty commented before sticking a forkful of seafood salad in her mouth.

"You'll thank me when you finally do meet my mother." Dom winked.

Letty's heart fluttered a little. "Why? You don't think she'll like me?"

"Letty, everybody likes you. My mother, however, is... an acquired taste. She's been known to make rabid pit bulls cry. Oddly enough, she's only like that with the girls I bring home."

The brunette laughed lightly. "Bring a lot of girls home to meet the parents, do you?"

"Nah. Usually it was the morning after. Or by accident. Never on purpose." Dom looked at Letty.

"And what about me? Have I arrived in time for an adventure with the maternal Toretto?"

Dom sat back in his chair and drank from his Corona, eyeing her, appreciatively. "Letty, you strike me as the type who always arrives just in time for something."

"So, your dad will like me, obviously. Dad's always do."

"Why is that? Are you a Daddy's girl?"

"Oh, one hundred percent. I mean, my mother and I get along extremely well. But, there's no one like my dad." Letty beamed.

"I guess that makes sense. Because I'm definitely a mama's boy. And if you tell anyone, I'll probably have to kill you." He shrugged, noncommittally.

"Oh no. You're not like those mama's boys who constantly have to consult with their mother before every decision they make, are you?"

Dom laughed heartily. "Definitely not. She tries to be a little overbearing, so it's better to be on her good side."

"Ah, the tactical approach."

Dom drank from his beer again, but didn't respond. A few moments of contemplative silence passed before he spoke again.

"Do you... would you want to meet them?" He asked. His body language told Letty that he was trying to put on a face of disinterest, but his tone seemed almost... nervous.

She shrugged a shoulder, following his nonchalant attitude, though her heart was beating quickly. "I wouldn't mind."

"Well, okay." He said. "Because they're walking up the back steps now." Dom said. From where he was sitting at the dining room table, he had a clear view of the festivities in the backyard of his house.

A smart soldier always has one eye on the front and one eye on the back, Letty's father had told her once. And when she'd inquired about the sides, he'd told her that's why you fell into battle with the people you trusted with your life.

Did she trust Dominic with her life? It was strange but she felt like she'd known him all her life, with the way they always manage to ease right into a conversation.

"What should I introduce you as?" He stage-whispered as the back screen door opened.

Letty shrugged. "Whatever would give your mother a panic attack?"

Dom shook his head and smirked at her. "Bad Letty."

"Dominic, there you are! Your father and I are about to leave and we couldn't find you to say goodbye." His mother replied. Dom stood up and hugged his mother. She looked back the way she'd come to see that her husband was no longer following her. "Oh, where is that man?"

"Mom, I want you to meet someone."

Maria Toretto turned to finally acknowledge the other person in the room. She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, you're certainly a pretty one."

Letty raised an eyebrow before standing up. "Thank you, Mrs. Toretto."

"This is Letty Ortiz, mom. My girlfriend."

Amusement twinkled in Letty's eyes when she looked at Dominic, both of them waiting for his mother's assumed, inevitable panic attack.

"Girlfriend? Really?" Maria's lips quickly pressed to together in a tight smile. She held her hand out and Letty shook it politely. "It's nice to meet you Letty."

"Igaulmente, señora Toretto." Letty greeted.

"She speaks Spanish too. How charming!" This time, when Maria smiled, it was genuine, before she addressed Letty. "I've met too many young Hispanics who don't know a lick of Spanish."

"Well, my parents raised me with all the values of my culture, ma'am." Letty replied.

Dom couldn't believe the show that Letty was putting on. She wasn't kissing his mother's ass like most of the women he'd known, but her manners were impeccable and were clearly pleasing his mother to no end.

"As all good parents should." Maria responded. "Tell me, Letty, what is it that you do?"

"I'm actually the auto-mechanics teacher at LA High School."

"I assume that's how you and Dominic met?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Maria turned to her son. "That's nice, dear."

Just then, Anthony Toretto joined them in the dining room on his way to the front door. "And who do we have here?"

"This is Letty Ortiz. Dom's girlfriend." Maria informed her husband.

"Nice to meet you, Letty. I'm Anthony." He shook her hand, surprised at the firm grip that modeled his own.

"Nice to meet you, too, sir."

"Call me Tony. Everyone does."

"Aw, and you can't get 'em to stop?" Letty teased. Anthony laughed and nodded his head. "Dominic, I like her."

He clapped his son on the back and headed out of the dining room. "Maria, come on. Leave them to finish their meals in peace."

Maria cleared her throat before looking at Letty once more. "It was nice to meet you, dear. Dominic."

Dom took the cue, excusing himself from Letty for a moment before walking his mother to the door. Tony had already been down the front stairs on his way to the car. From where Letty sat, she could see a small glimpse of Dom hugging his mother. Maria appeared to be saying something in his ear and nodded, his face a mask of seriousness. Finally, they parted and he shut the front door before heading back to his spot at the table.

Letty poked at her potato salad, waiting for him to sit down.

"So? What's the verdict?"

"The jury's still out. But, she said, and I quote, 'she's charming. If she's still around next month, bring her to dinner'." Dom paraphrased.

Letty smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Did your mother indirectly ask me to Thanksgiving dinner?"

Dom nodded. "But you don't have to come."

"Dom, shut up. Of course, I'll come. Though, I'll probably have to be a little late. My parents always do Thanksgiving and Christmas really big."

"Better late than never." Dom told her.

She smiled and leaned over the corner of the table and Dom took her cue, pressing his lips against hers. Letty's eyes closed and she felt Dom's hand on her own. They pulled back, slightly, but neither of them moved their faces away.

"So, I'm your girlfriend?"

"I don't know. Are you?"

"I don't know. What are the perks?"

"Well, obviously the most important is you get to be with me." Dom joked. Letty rolled her eyes. "And then there's the mindblowing sex. And breakfast and bed. Not to mention, you get to hang out with my friends."

Letty smiled into the next kiss she planted on his lips. "Mmm. Tell me more about this breakfast in bed you speak of." She teased.

Dom chuckled. "It'll be massive. And fulfilling. Much like the mindblowing sex."

Letty couldn't stop the rush of warmth she felt invade her center. And she kissed him again. "You sure talk a big game."

"Wait til you see, Letty."

Letty's throaty laugh was music to his ears.

"Wait'll you see." He repeated and kissed her lips.

Up Next: Breakfast in bed?