Chapter 31

It wasn't till half twelve the following morning, that Brian came downstairs, after waking up to find Mia gone. He found her at the sink. "Morning" he half groaned as he walked over and hugged her round the waist. He was wearing his jeans but nothing else. "So that's where my shirt went!" he laughed as he noticed that she was wearing his over-sized shirt. She turned in his arms, and wrapped her arms around Brian's neck.

"Yeah," she spoke through a grin. She gave him a quick kiss, then went back to washing dishes. Brian walked away from her and looked about the house. "Where is everybody?" he shouted back into the kitchen. "They left about an hour ago. We used up all the food last night. They went to get some more at the market" he heard her yell back. All the balloons and banners were gone. He knew that the others had cleared up the mess earlier in the morning. He retuned to the kitchen and started to help Mia finish off the washing up.

It wasn't long until the roar of engines interrupted Mia and Brian's conversation. They heard doors bang shut, and Dom walked into the kitchen carrying brown bags filled with groceries. He stopped dead at the doorway, surprised to see Mia standing in Brian's big t-shirt, and Brian standing with only his jeans on. He was about to say something when Letty walked into him. She turned round and saw he reason why he's stopped.

"Ohhh.Damn..Erm sorry guys. I didn't know!" she struggled to say through a menacing smile. Mia blushed at having her brother, Vince, and Leon looking at her when she was half naked. "It's aigt. I was just going to get changed anyway.." she smiled guiltily at Brian and rushed past the others up the stairs. Brian coughed and looked at everybody. Vince, Letty, and Leon were trying to hide their smiles behind their bags, and Brian would've laughed out loud, if it hadn't been for the look on Dom's face. It was a look somewhere in between anger and frustration. The others put their bags down and went out into the garden, knowing it better to leave them alone. Dom watched them go, then put his bags down on the counter next to Brian. Brian leaned on the counter and Dom stood next to him. Brian made the first move. "Sorry Dom. Didn't expect you home as early!" he tried to explain. "Let me clear a few things up here, OK Brian?" he cut in. Brian nodded. "Sure!" Dom took a deep breath and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm gettin' used to havin' you around again," he began, eyeing Brian fiercely. "But understand this! You mess with Mia, or any of us, the way you messed with us before, and I swear to God I'll kill ya!" he said pushing his hand in Brian's face. Brian pulled back out of fear that the hand would turn into a fist. But Dom pulled his hand back.

"Dom! It aint gonna happen. I promise ya!" he confronted Dom. "I aint a cop. I'm just like you, I broke the law!" he shouted back. He was furious that Dom believed he would hurt Mia like that again. Dom and Brian stared at each other. Mia was halfway down the stairs when she'd heard them arguing. She paused just outside the kitchen, waiting to hear what was going on. There was silence. She was just about to go in when she heard Dom speak. She froze. "Your nothing like me!" Dom pointed out in a calm and controlled voice. "But I hear what your sayin'! You aint a cop! You saved my ass twice, so I owe ya!" Brian considered what he had said. Mia was still standing outside, getting more nervous by the minute. "Nah. Were even." He corrected Dom. He held out his hand and waited for Dom to take it. Finally Dom shook his hand. "So you told Mia yet?" he asked Brian. Mia's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Not yet. I don't know how!" "Tell Mia what?" she asked as she stepped out from behind the door. Brian and Dom looked at her then at each other. "I'll leave you to it!" Dom directed at Brian, and went outside to get the others.