A/N: Surprisingly, I only received ONE racist anonymous (read: cowardly) review about the last chapter. First, I'm only one quarter Black, I'm also Sioux Native American, Dominican and (we most recently discovered) Inuit. But, thanks for racially profiling me. You're the real MVP for that.

Second, thank you to everyone for the support and continuous reviews. I love and appreciate each and every one of you!


Chapter 11: Shakti

Cha Cha Cha, Echo Park, 10:18PM

"There she is."

All it took was those three words and a smile, and Dom had somehow made her feel like she was the only woman in the world; made her feel as if he had been waiting for her his entire life.

"Is there room for one more?"

"There's always room for family." Tony spoke up. He tapped Jesse and pointed to a spare chair at an empty table behind theirs. Jesse retrieved the chair and placed it between himself and Leon. Before sitting back down, he pulled Letty into a hug.

"Hey, boyfriend." Letty jokingly stated. She looked directly at Dom when she said it, but wrapped her arms around Leon and kissed his cheek. Leon's eyes bulged as he looked at his traitorous best friend. Dom's jaw muscle clenched.

"Glad you could make it, Let."

"You must be Letty."

It was then that Letty noticed the glowing brunette sitting beside Anthony Toretto. Even in her own seat, she was snuggled against his side, his arm around her and resting on the back of her chair.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Toretto."

"Sol, please, or Mari; whichever you prefer."

Letty smiled in acknowledgment and turned to look at Dom who was sitting back in his chair, arms crossed over his broad chest, eyes shooting daggers at her. She gave him a playful wink, before leaning over and nudging Jesse with her shoulder.

"How's tricks, kid?"

Jesse shrugged. "Alright, I guess."

"Letty, we were just about getting dessert. What do you want?" Sol wondered.

"Oh, gosh, no, I'm stuffed. I just came from a disastrous dinner, but thank you for the offer."

"What happened at your dinner?" Leon asked.

"Oh, I just don't have a brain-to-mouth filter sometimes." Letty exhaled her words with a casual shrug of her shoulders. "Especially when it comes to political and racial issues."

"Well, if it's important to you, it's important, period. Never be afraid to speak your mind." Tony advised.

"That's one thing Letty is never afraid to do," interjected Dom. Letty looked at him over the glass of water she took from Jesse, sipping it.

Sol looked between her son and Letty, trying to get a sense of what was happening between them. They seemed compatible, but she knew her husband's policy about work romances. "So, what is it that you do besides work at the garage, Letty? If you don't mind my asking."

"I'm on the LA Lady Lancers dance team." Letty admitted.

"Oh, with Elena?" She looked at her son again, who nodded his answer. "That must be fun."

"It's torture, but I get through it."

"Are you two good friends?"

Letty snorted.

"Put it this way, Mama T, if Elena was on fire, Letty wouldn't spit on her." Leon answered for Letty. The entire table laughed, except for Dom.

It was strange how comfortable Letty felt around these people; more comfortable than with her own family, it seemed. Her biological brother, excluded. She felt like she'd known them her entire life. The conversation around her flowed easily. It seemed as if not even five minutes could go by without a round of laughter floating from their table.

"Are you single, Letty?"

"As a dollar bill and I'm not looking for change." Letty grinned.

Sol smiled. "No settling down in your future?"

"Mari, stop interrogating the girl." Tony scolded his nosy wife, gently.

"It's okay, I don't mind," replied Letty. "Not in the near future, no, but I'd eventually like to settle down. Have a brat."

"You hear that, Dom. She wants kids. Unlike that girl."

"Mom!" Dom admonished.

"So," Sol changed the subject, quickly, "what's in your near future plans?"

"Uh," breathed Letty, "an away game next week."

"Oh, yeah? Where to?" Jesse asked.

"Atlanta."

"That'll be fun." Leon chipped in.

"Yeah, I'm excited. I've never been."

A while later, Tony peered around and saw that they were the only ones left in the restaurant. This was the norm when it came to their little family. They were always the last to leave during family dinner nights. The staff didn't seem to mind; the family always tipped extremely well and never gave them any trouble.

"I think it's time we got lost." Tony mentioned, pulling a leather wallet from his jeans pocket. The other men followed suit, each throwing down money until the entire bill and their waiters' tips were covered.

"Dom, follow Letty home. Make sure she gets there safely." Sol told her son.

"He doesn't have to that." Letty replied, standing. The group started towards the exit and Letty looped her arm around Jesse's neck.

"Nonsense, it's what gentlemen are supposed to do."

"Mama T doesn't take no for an answer, so you mind as well just go with it." Leon murmured to Letty.

"Yes, ma'am," relented Letty.


Letty's condo, 11:22PM

The brunette pulled her keys from the starter and blew out a breath, puffing up her cheeks. She got out of her vehicle, walking to Dom's, which he'd double-parked in front of her building. He rolled down the window of the passenger side and she leaned in, one forearm resting on the sill.

"Thanks for following me home, creeper. I appreciate it."

Dom laughed. "You're welcome. I'm glad you made it to dinner."

"Me too. I had a nice time."

"Oh, I'm sorry but we do not accept the word 'nice'. Please select another word from your vocabulary and try again." Dom replied as if he were an automated machine.

That made Letty snicker. "Fine, I had a fantastic time. Phenomenal. Fabulous. Do any of those work for you?"

"They all do quite… nicely," emphasized Dom.

Letty shook her head in disbelief. "Will you be at our evening practice tomorrow?"

"Will you be looking for me at practice tomorrow?"

Shrugging nonchalantly, Letty tilted her head. "It'd be nice to see another friendly face."

"Then I'll be there." Dom figured he might as well mention the conversation he'd had with Elena, since he and Letty were friends now. "I'll also be in Atlanta next week for the away game."

Her expression was priceless. "What?"

"Yeah. Vince, too. He'll be back from vacation just in time."

"But you didn't say anything at dinner."

"Why would I? So my mom could mention that Atlanta would be a great place to raise our kids? Did you not see her trying to set us up tonight? She's in love with you."

Letty smirked, using her palm to mock fluffing her hair. "Well, what's not to love?"

"I don't know, Letty."

The brunette didn't know how to take that response, so she figured she was better off bowing out of the conversation gracefully.

"Well, thanks again, Dom. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."


Up Next: More Owen. More Dom. More Elena...