A/N: I got really sad writing this, but it's what makes the most sense to me. Hopefully, your holiday cheer will over power the melancholy of this chapter. I definitely want address the prison years rather than skip them over. So I think I'm going to dedicate two or three chapters to that time frame. Happy reading, and feel free to leave me any comments or questions!
When the officials left their home Mia continued to cry into Letty's lap. Dom stormed upstairs without a word. He proceeded to completely sabotage his entire room. He flipped his bed, broke his closet door, cut his knuckles when he shattered his mirror, and threw a couple things here and there. Vince dropped in on them about an hour into Dom's rage spell. Mia had fallen asleep beside Letty.
"Woah, what's going on up there?" He said as he came into the house.
"He got sentenced two years in the box, and Mia has to go into foster care."
"Shit."
"I know. He's been at it for a while, but I'm waiting until it gets quiet to actually go up there."
"Good idea. He needs to work out his frustration." He sat across from her and sighed. "This is so fucked up."
"I've never felt so helpless in my entire life. I have no idea what to do."
"Me neither. Dom's the last guy who deserves to do time."
"He's doing real time V. Two years is a lot. I don't know if can handle that."
"What are you saying? You want out?"
"Of course not. I'm just trying to say, life's gonna be really hard without him." She said getting teary-eyed. "I love him so much and I can't make it any better for him, you know?"
"Yea I know what you mean. I can't think of memories without Dom or Mr. T in them. It's like we're losing them both in one hit; and this one too." He said gestured at a sleeping Mia. "She's the sweetest person I've ever known. She don't deserve this shit."
"Word, man, but I have a plan for her. When I first suggested it was just a stupid thought, but now I'm starting to think it may actually work."
"What is it?"
"I'm going to blackmail my mom into taking her. She likes Mia, and she needs me to make rent. With the three of us she'd be an asset more than a burden, you know?"
"That's not bad, but you know they're mad picky with who they give permission too."
"Yea, but they seemed like they wanted to help, even if just a little bit. My mom has a clean criminal record and she's not technically living with anyone they can accuse of being a threat or whatever."
"Damn girl, if you can make it happen, do it."
"Ima do my best." She looked at the staircase. "You mind watching her for a minute."
"Yea, he's been quiet for a few minutes now." Letty got up to check on Dom. When she creaked the door open she could have sworn a tornado had hit. He had literally smashed everything he could get his hands on.
"I think you missed a spot." She commented dryly. He was facing the window and did not turn around. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his back. Letty did not say anything, but rather took in the pleasure of embracing him. She knew to some degree it brought him comfort even if it just amounted to a fraction of the pain her felt. After several minutes she finally mustered up the courage to say something. "I love you. I know I don't say it a lot, but I really do." Dom turned around and escaped her embrace. He sunk down on the adjacent wall and brought his knees up away from his chest.
"Two years is a long time Let." He finally said though he still wasn't looking in her general direction.
"So?"
"I'd be stupid to expect you to wait for me."
"No you wouldn't. I absolutely plan to. These feelings aren't just going to go away Dom." She said crawling beside him.
"You say that now, but wait till time changes your mind."
"It won't."
"You don't know that."
"Yes I do." She caressed his neck and took a deep breath. "You mean everything to me. My world doesn't matter without you in it." She said clinging to him.
"You need to forget about me. I fuck everything up." He countered.
"No you don't!"
"The one thing they asked me to do, I and fucking failed. One week into my responsibilities and I end up behind bars. I was supposed to man up you know, and I didn't."
"Shit happens. For fuck sake, your dad basically burned alive in front of you. I think you're entitled to being just a little bit upset. You've always been a good man to me, and a good brother to your sister, a good friend to Vince. We all make mistakes. You have to move forward."
"To what! Huh? What life can I have after this?"
"Baby, maybe you won't have the original dream, but you can always make new ones. We have two years to think about it."
"How can I protect her from in there?"
"We'll take care of that. You're not alone. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. We could be married to other people and I'll still fuck with you because this shit right here," She said gesturing between the two of them. "is the real thing. I know it! I feel it every time I look at you, or you touch me. It doesn't matter how mad I am or put off, I still want you at the end of every single day." He looked at her and their eyes met. "I ain't ever been this pathetic in my life and its all thanks to you." There was a shadow of a smile on his face. She knew it was the best she was going to get. She leaned in to kiss him and he half-heartedly responded.
"I don't know if I can make it without you."
"You wont have to. I'm right here, and I'll always be here when you need me. You're always taking care of me. I can take care of you too." She said wiping the tears off as they fell on his hardened face.
"I don't wanna go. I know what happens in there." He croaked.
"Play it smart. You're good at knowing when to shut-up and bud out. Avoid trouble. The attorney said you could get out a few months earlier for good behavior." He gave her a simple nod. She buried her face in his neck inhaling his scent. She was going to miss the way he smelled, the way he'd hold her, and the way he'd make her feel like everything would be ok. She wanted to break down right then and there, but would not let herself. Just then Vince came inside.
"Hey Dom, Mia's asking for you. She's in her room." They went to Mia's room, where they found the small brunette attempting to pack her things on the floor. She looked up and weakly spoke.
"I don't know what to bring."
"What ever you need." Dom said squatting beside her.
"I need you!" She choked out. "I hate them! I hate them so much!"
"I do to, but we gotta make with what we got, right?"
"Wrong." She sobbed.
"It's not forever Mia."
"It's two years! You know what can happen in two years?"
"I know sis. I feel like shit for doing this to you."
"You're not doing it; they are! I'm not gonna go." She argued. "I can stay here. Vince will look out for me, right?" Vince looked away when she looked in his direction.
"You have to go Mia." Dom told her quietly.
"Listen Mia, you just have to go for a little while. I'll break you out myself if we can't figure out something in time." Letty told her.
"What's a while?"
"Give me a month." She affirmed.
"Ok." She accepted. They helped her fill her small duffle bag with clothes. She packed a couple of photos of her family. Looking through old pictures seemed like the only thing that brought her some level of comfort.
"I don't think any of us are gonna get sleep tonight. You guys wanna smoke and watch a movie. I got bud." Dom gave Vince a weak smile.
"I can always count on you V to lighten shit up." Vince cheesed at him. They did just that, however there was a knock on the door at exactly six AM. Panic struck them all in an instant as reality settled in. Mia squeezed Dom into a tight hug.
"You're gonna take care of her for me, right V?"
"Yea." He said solemnly. There was another knock on. "I guess I'll get that before they break it down." Dom nodded and Letty began to cry. As much as she wanted to be strong she could not anymore. The reality of what was happening to all of them hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Hey you, it's gonna be fine." Dom said while caressing her face. "Remember what you told me yesterday?" She nodded. "Ima hold you to that." She leaned in and kissed him desperately.
"We should have had sex last night." She sniffled when they parted.
"Probably" He said with a smile. "But hey, there's always next time. Ima beat that pussy up when get back."
"Shut up." She responded with small laugh as tears continued to fall down her face.
"Dominic Torretto." It was a police officer. Dom bowed his head, but eventually looked up.
"You here to take me in?" The policeman nodded.
"If you could please put your hands behind your back."
"No!" Mia cried as she threw herself at Dom.
"It's ok Mia, its ok." He told her. She cried into his neck. The policeman grabbed Dom's arm and proceed to handcuff him, despite Mia's antics.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?"
"You can't take him! You can't take him!"
"Officer would you mind restraining Miss. Toretto." An officer came from behind her and attempted to rip Mia away, but she clung for dear life.
"Get your hands off me!" She screamed at the officer. He eventually succeeded in getting Mia off of Dom. "Get off me!" She continued to scream. Dom attempted to look away. It hurt too much to watch his loved was in such a state. The policeman placed Dom in the back seat.
"We'll see you soon." Letty told him through the window. "Ok?"
"Miss I'm going to need you to step away from the vehicle." Letty glared at the officer.
"Call the Lawyer tomorrow for details about that." Dom told her.
"Ok."
"Miss…"
"Alright, alright already!"
"Mia you need to calm down." Vince told her.
"I'm not going! I'm not going!" Mia screamed while still in the officer's grasps. Letty grabbed her face.
"Listen to me Mia. You have to go with them, but I'm gonna get you out. I'm gonna get you out." She repeated.
"You promise?" She begged.
"Yes. You know I'm good for my word." With that she calmed slightly.
"Miss Toretto, I need you to come with me." The agent told her. Mia continued to weep, but followed her to her car.
"See you later Mia." Vince told her as Letty wrapped her arms around him.
"See ya." She mustered before getting into the vehicle. Both cars drove off soon after that.
"I can't believe this V." Letty cried into his chest.
"Yea. Me neither."