A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, but the chapters I had written in advance "magically" disappeared but secretly I think my roommate was in my room again. So I had to recreate the next two chapters from memory.

This chapter was written to bring together the history that Mia and Vince have and to show why they are so important to each other. Thanks to all those that have read this story so far and thanks for sticking it out with me. Please read and review!

Chapter 11: Regrets

Vince threw himself on the bed, closing his eyes in frustration. The night hadn't gone as planned. In his eyes, it had turned to shit all before him. He got drunk, got arrested, got into a fight and relived his entire life in a mere 12 hours. He had received no play from Lex, but he knew deep down that it would take more than that to stop him.

As he felt himself begin to doze off, he heard footsteps approach his room. He cracked one eye open and found Mia at the foot of his bed. "I noticed you came home a tad upset V. Want to talk about it?" She said, sitting down and making herself comfortable. He simply scoffed and proceeded to burrow himself deeper into the bed.

Mia glanced at him, mad at his rudeness. "Look Vince, I know we've had our differences in the past but-," was all that she got out before he sprung up in bed. "Listen here, Mia. We've had more than our share of differences, if you catch my drift, so I suggest you pack up your fucking pity wagon and head on home, because I don't want to fucking hear it," he scowled at her.

She glanced at him again and nodded slowly. Vince felt something burning in the bottom of his chest and tears sprung to his eyes as he watched Mia get up and leave the room quietly. It was regret. The slow, burning feeling of regret, rising in his body, gnawing away at his insides, was enough to drive a man to drink. Which was what he usually did.

He fell back into the bed, throwing an arm over his eyes and taking in a deep breath. It was times like these that made him revert into a bastard- treating everyone around him like they had leprosy. He knew the damage he could cause with his words, let alone his body. His only out was to stay holed up, in bed or drunk in some bar where few had the balls to approach him. His life and its consequences had turned him into the hardened bastard that everyone had to deal with on a day to day basis.

--

It was six months after Dom had been sent away to Lompoc and the team was struggling to stay alive. Vince had shed his hard core exterior and put himself to the test- the team was his responsibility now and he couldn't fail them.

Mia, Letty, Leon, Vince and Jesse were burning their candles at both ends. Between the store and the garage, there was no time to bond or even let alone time to live their own lives. With Dom's absence, the garage and store were short on hands and the racing scene wasn't pulling in money like it used to.

After deciding that they all needed a night on the town and far away from the Toretto household, Letty, Leon and Jesse climbed into Letty's car and sped off towards a distant nightclub in the city, leaving a ticked off Vince at home with Mia.

He stood at the foot of the stairs, slipping into a tank top and pacing. "MIA! Come on. You've put on three different outfits so far. Pick one and hurry up. The team is waiting for us," he yelled up the stairs, leaning against the railing.

Seconds later, he heard footsteps and he sighed. His was full of relief at the thought of being able to leave the house finally, but it his expression went blank when he turned around and caught sight of her.

Mia was walking down the stairs clad in a matching white lace bra and panty set. Her feet were bare and her hair was wild. "Mia, what are you doing?"

Vince took a step back, staring at her, not believing his eyes. She walked over to him, an innocent look on her face. As she approached him he kept taking steps back, until landing on the couch. Pretty soon after that, she was straddling him, her hands in his hair.

She kissed him and Vince instantly knew why. Her mouth tasted like she had recently brushed her teeth, but he was a seasoned drinker- behind the minty taste he recognized the familiar taste of whiskey.

He sighed, realizing that that was the only way to get Mia to ever want to be with him- drunk and depressed. "Stop," he mumbled against her lips as she ran her hands up and down his arms. Mia quickly grabbed on to his face with her hands and sucked on his ear lobe.

He groaned, knowing that what was happening was wrong. She placed his hands on her hips and began to grind against him. Vince moaned into her neck knowing that he was close to going over the edge- she could see it in his eyes. He kissed her, capturing her sweet, soft lips with his own, their tongues dancing softly together.

"Show me I'm not alone, Vince. Show me how you're the man of my dreams," she whispered into his ear, removing her bra. Vince stared at the perfect buds in front of him and trembled. It amazed him how nervous she was able to make it. If it was any other girl, he would've been had her on her back and turned out already but not Mia. His Mia was special.

She ran her hands up her sides, landing on her breasts, playing with herself. "You know you want me, Vince. Show me that you deserve a chance," she moaned.

And he showed her alright. He showed her in so many different ways. Vince knew it was wrong taking her in the state she was in, but deep inside, he hoped that she chose him over Leon or Jesse because she actually felt something for him.

That night, as Vince looked down at Mia in his bed, he wondered how he deserved a girl like her. "Vince?" She asked softly, turning to face him. He looked at her, heavy lidded, the passion clearly shown in his eyes. "You think we're going to be alright?" She asked, a tear streaming down her face.

Vince nodded softly, placing a sweet kiss on her forehead. "I promise you that I'll do everything and anything I can to protect you," he said, wrapping his arms around her. Although they slept the rest of the night like that, the next morning she was gone. Her only remainders were the scratch marks on Vince's back and torso and the sweet scent of vanilla on his pillow.

As Vince got out of the bed to head to the shower, he spotted something on the middle of his bed.

Blood.

--

From that day on, Mia acted like that night never happened, while Vince was slowly dying off. He spent his nights trying to erase the sweet nothings she whispered into his ears, while she kept the secret that Vince was her first lover to herself.