Thank you to EG, Kita, and Teamtorettosupporter for the great feedback. I'm sad to say that this is the last chapter for this story, but happy to say that I will be posting an Epilogue in a few days. I hope everyone enjoys this last chapter.
Chapter 21
The day of the final court hearing crept up all too quickly. Dom took Dallas out of his car seat and kissed his head.
"Daddy loves you, little man," he whispered as he grabbed the diaper bag and headed up the front steps to Emma's door.
Emma had heard Dom's car pull up; she opened the front door and smiled at him. "Good morning!" she said in a cheerful voice, wanting to seem happy even though she was scared of what today could bring.
Dom stepped inside and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "Good morning, thanks again for watching him for me." He moved inside more so she could shut the door.
Brenden was still in his pajamas as he stood next to his mommy's laundry basket and threw the clean socks onto the floor. Dom chuckled and set Dallas on the floor near Brenden and the basket.
"No need to thank me, I'm glad to watch him for a few hours." Emma smiled and walked over to Dom, taking the diaper bag to get the couple of full bottles to put in the fridge. "How you feeling this morning?" she asked and looked at Dom.
He shrugged his shoulders a little and followed her into the kitchen. "I'm not sure really," he said in a kind of sad voice. "I'm happy that this whole mess will be over soon, but freaking out that this could be the last day I get to hold my son."
Emma quickly put the bottles in the fridge, turned to Dom, and wrapped her arms around him and just hugged him. Over the last month, she thought about how she would feel if she was in Dom's position. Even though Dallas wasn't her son, she did know that her heart was already aching with the thought that she might not see Dallas grow up. Her eyes threatened to spill the tears they held as she heard Dom whisper into her hair.
"I've thought about this, Emma." His voice cracked as he spoke quietly to her. "I'm not sure I'll make it without Dallas being with me."
She looked up at him, knowing what he meant. He tried to be happy these last few weeks, but she could tell how sad and depressed he was. She shook her head and cupped his face. "Don't think like that, Dominic. You will get custody of him. The judge will see that he's better off with you. It's when you think negative that the bad things happen."
Dom sighed for the millionth time that week. He knew she was right, but at the same time he just couldn't bring himself to be convinced fully of it. "I know, Emma, but it's just so hard."
"I understand that, but you need to go into that court room with your head held high. Showing your ex that you aren't fearful of what's to come today. You need to show her that you are confident." She smiled at him.
He looked at her for a moment before he smirked, "So I should go in there lying like she will be doing?"
Emma giggled and nodded, "Exactly!"
"Okay," he said and put on a smile, willing to just pretend to be happy to see Emma smile more. 'Thanks for being so good to me, Emma." He kissed her lips.
She shrugged, "I have to be good to you, since you are so good to me." She took his hand and they walked back into the living room where the boys were babbling. Emma knew he was only pretending to be somewhat happy, but on a day like today, she could live with a little pretending.
Dom picked up Dallas and kissed his cheek, before pretending to nibble on his neck which made Dallas giggle. Dom smiled at Dallas, "Daddy will be back before you know it. Be good for Emma."
Dallas grinned at his daddy and cooed, before Dom sat him back down on the floor. Dom kissed Emma's lips once more. "Thanks again, I'll call you as soon as I leave the court room."
Emma smiled, "You better."
Fifteen minutes later Dom met Mia outside of the court house. The rest of the team had to work today, since the garage was very busy this week.
Mia linked her arm with her brother's, "Remember what Mr. Williams said; we have a very good chance to keep Dallas," she spoke quietly to him, knowing how nervous Dom was about what was about to happen.
He nodded, "I know. And if we lose," he paused for a moment, "I'm still fighting for him." Dom held the door open for her, "Or moving to Brazil with him." He mumbled the last part; only half joking, but not really wanting Mia to hear it.
Dom looked around when they entered the court house lobby area; he wasn't seeing Letty or her lawyer. It wasn't long before they were stepping off from the elevators and onto the floor the family courts were on. Dom sighed with a little relief when his lawyer smiled at them and waved them over.
"Good to see you, Dom," Mr. Williams said and shook hands with both Dom and Mia.
Nodding, Dom glanced at his watch, "You think they are going to start on time?" he asked, just wanting to get in there to hear what the judge had to say.
Mr. Williams watched Dom, "I'm sure they will. We are the first case for the day," he smiled seeing Dom acting like all the other clients he had. Without even asking he could see how nervous the dad was, he gestured for them to have a seat until it was their time.
Once sitting Dom looked over to where Letty and her lawyer had sat the first court date. Same pictures, same bench, only thing missing was Letty. Dom pulled the sleeve of his suit coat back as he looked to see the time. Maybe Letty wouldn't show, maybe the letter helped her see how much he and Dallas needed each other. He hoped so, but knew it wouldn't be that easy.
It was then that Letty and her lawyer walked into the lobby. Dom tried to look away, but he needed to see how Letty was acting this time. He wanted to see if the real Letty showed up or if the fake one came back.
He noticed she had dress slacks on, better then the dress, yet still not Letty. He watched as she sat down and crossed her legs, pushing her long hair back over her shoulder. She looked more like the real Letty, but Dom wasn't buying it.
Before long the bailiff was calling both parties into the court room. Mr. Williams let Letty and Mrs. Summers walk in first. Just like the time before Dom followed his lawyer to their table and sat down.
To Dom the five minute wait for the judge to come out of her chambers felt like an eternity. When he saw the judge's door open his heart started to race faster, thumping at his chest, as if it was making a break for it.
The judge sat down in her seat and opened her case file. "Mr. Toretto and Miss Ortiz, during the break from this court I was able to read over all of the documents I was given." She took her glasses off from her face and laid them down on her piles of papers. "I would like you to know that for one person, who has only met you once, who wasn't there through all of the years you two were together, and who doesn't know everything that has happened in the past few months, it is difficult to choose which parent should get custody of the child in question."
Dom nodded his head, knowing that it had to be a tough job, but trusted that the judge would make the right choice. He glanced over to Letty who was looking at her hands that were folded together on the table.
The judge continued, "First I would like to say that from what I hear, it's a good thing you two are not together anymore. The allegations, true or not, that were made in this courtroom are events that no couple should go through. Let alone have a child in a situation such as that."
Once again, Dom nodded his head. He agreed with the judge so far; he knew it was a bad situation and he didn't want Dallas to be in the middle of something like that.
"Before I give my judgment, I would like to ask Mr. Toretto and Miss Ortiz if they have any final words to say," the judge said and turned to look at Letty. "Miss Ortiz, is there anything you would like to say today?"
Letty stood up when her name was called, looked up at the judge and shook her head. "No, Your Honor," she said and sat back down.
The judge nodded and looked over at Dom, "Mr. Toretto, is there anything you would like to say?"
Like Letty, Dom stood when his name was spoken. He looked at his lawyer and then back at Mia, before looking at the judge again. "Um," he said his mind suddenly blank. "I, ah, I just want to say that," he was trying to put a final thought together, but not much was coming to him. "No, Your Honor, I don't have anything to say." He frowned and sat down.
She nodded and slipped her glasses back on. "Alright," she said as she looked down at her papers again, before glancing back up at Dom and Letty. "There were lots of things I had to consider when reviewing this particular case."
The judge glanced at Dom as she spoke. "Mr. Toretto, I was shown that you have a very stable home, as well as a profitable business which provides plenty of financial support for your son. I also see that you have provided your son with the best medical care possible. I commend you for taking care of your responsibility when it came down to it."
Dom smiled, thinking he had this in the bag. He was going to be able to walk out of here with his head held high, knowing that Letty couldn't take his son from him.
It was a moment later when the judge talked to Letty, "Miss Ortiz, I may never fully understand the reason behind you giving your child to his father and walking away. However, as an authority figure, I am not here to judge your parenting ability on that alone. My job is to see which parent, if either, is able to provide the child with a stable home environment, adequate medical and emotional care, and plenty of love. You told the court that your job forces you to work third shift, which means you would be sleeping during the day. Daycares do provide a safe environment for children to learn and grow in, but it's not the same as the care a parent can provide. You did submit papers stating your place of employment was willing to switch working hours so that you had more time with your son. This shows me that you are willing to change things in your life to help better the life of your child."
Dom looked over at Letty and Mrs. Summers and shook his head as Letty and her lawyer smiled at each other. The slight shaky feeling he had this morning started to return. He turned his attention back to the judge as she took up where she left off.
"Both parties have suggested the other isn't capable of caring for this child. After careful consideration and based on the evidence that was given, my ruling is for Miss Ortiz to-"
Dom's already racing heart went tearing down deep into his stomach. He was so thankful he was sitting, or he might have fallen over.
"Wait!" Letty said loudly, cutting into the judge's ruling. She had stood up so fast that the chair she occupied threatened to tip completely backwards before Mrs. Summers stopped it with one hand.
Everyone, including the judge, turned their attention to Letty. "Miss Ortiz, this is not the time for you to speak. I've already reached my decision."
Dom wasn't sure what Letty was thinking when she interrupted the judge, after all it looked as if the judge was about to give a ruling in Letty's favor. What are you doing, Letty? His mind screamed in frustration, just wanting to hear the judge's words.
"I'm sorry, Your Honor, but…but I really need to say something." She moved her hand away from her lawyer as the woman tried to get her to sit down and be quiet.
With a sigh, the judge nodded, "If it's that important, go ahead, Miss Ortiz."
Mr. Williams stood up, "Your honor, with all due respect, she already said she didn't have anything to say."
The judge nodded, "I'm willing to hear what she has to say if Mr. Toretto doesn't object to it."
She looked at Dom who half stood up, putting most of his weight on the table in front of him, not really trusting his legs. Dom shook his head, "Ah, no, I don't object."
"Miss Ortiz, you were saying?" The judge asked as Mr. Williams and Dom sat back down, looking at each other still not understanding fully what was going on.
Letty licked her lips as she stood, slightly wilted between her chair and her large table, as if she was trying to cower behind something half her height. Out of her back pocket she brought forth a long envelope that she unfolded. From the angle he was sitting, Dom could see that it was the envelope he had given to her. His heart, once racing, felt like it had abruptly stopped. He moved his hand over his face knowing that Letty was about to use that letter against him.
"I'm fucked," he whispered to Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams just looked at him, not understanding why Dom said that.
"I'm sorry for interrupting you, but I feel that I need to get something off my mind. I know you have already made your decision and that what I have to say probably won't matter. But if your ruling is for me to have Dallas, I need you to change your mind."
Mia, who was sitting quietly behind Dom, was the only one who spoke, "What?" she questioned quietly before her hand shot up and covered her mouth. As Dom turned to look at her, he noticed how big her eyes were, probably worried that she was going to get kicked out of the court room.
The judge looked at her in disbelief too. "Miss Ortiz, what are you saying?"
Letty looked down at her name on the envelope. "I'm saying that Dom should have Dallas. He is the one that will take the best care of our son."
Dom was utterly confused, but at the same time wanted to jump for joy as he heard Letty speak. He watched her as she turned her head to look at him.
"I'm sorry that I put you through all this, Dom." Her eyes seemed to search his for something that Dom didn't know if she would find. "When you told me you didn't want me back after all of this time, I was pissed." Letty's eyes flickered to the judge, "Sorry, I mean I was very upset. Like I said, I figured if you felt that strongly for Dallas, then if I took him from you, you would feel that strongly for me too."
Mrs. Summers stood up and whispered almost silently to Letty, which made Letty shake her head. "No, I need to say this before it's too late." She looked at the judge, "I know I'm not going to be able to take care of Dallas like Dom can. I don't know the first thing about being a good parent. I'm self-centered, I like to party, I have a very bad temper, and I can't provide a stable life that a baby needs."
She turned her whole body this time as she looked at Dom, "I said horrible things about you here and they weren't the truth. I want you to have him and raise him right."
It was then that Dom knew that through this whole experience Letty had changed too. The old Letty he had been looking for was there, but with a new Letty trying to break free. He allowed his tears to fall from his cheeks and onto his suit; he watched her as she sat back down and wiped her own tears.
The court room was silent for a moment before the judge spoke, "Is that all, Miss Ortiz?"
Letty nodded and held onto the letter from Dom.
With a sigh the judge looked at Mr. Williams and Mrs. Summers, "With this new confession my decision is for Mr. Toretto to have full physical custody of Dallas Toretto."
Dom grinned and looked back at Mia who was grinning just as big. The judge stood up and headed for her chambers. Mr. Williams and Dom stood up and shook hands, and over Mr. Williams shoulder he saw Letty and her lawyer talking quietly.
"What made you change your mind, Letty?" Mrs. Summers asked her client.
Before Letty answered, she thought back to the last part of Dom's letter:
I now know the words I want to say to you, Letty, the words I wasn't able to think of all those years ago. I wish you luck in the future with whatever it is you are doing in your new life in Texas. I hope you are able to find someone who you can communicate with and who will love you like you deserve. The feelings that I had for you while we were together will always be here, not because I love you, but because I love what we created. I've become a different man since you left Dallas with me. I hope you can see that Dallas needs me just as much as I need him.
I guess in the end I want to thank you, Letty. I want to thank you for taking good care of him while he was inside of you and for making sure he got such great care when he was first born. You think you were a bad mom for yelling at him, but I think you were a good mom for knowing when you couldn't handle it any more and for getting him the help he deserved.
"What made me change my mind?" she questioned as her eyes moved from Dom back to Mrs. Summers. "A good friend was able to tell me what I always wanted to hear," she said as she looked back over to Dom and watched as he picked Mia up and hugged her tightly.
Dom had turned so Mia's back was to Letty as he hugged his sister. He saw Letty look at him and he mouthed the words 'Thank you!'
She gave him a small smile that included a shrug of her shoulders.