D/L – Still Don't Own Them- Still Not Worth The Effort To Sue Me.

Sitting on the bench, my knees drawn up to my chest, I lost track of time. The crashing waves were hypnotizing. After a while the bench became uncomfortable so I got barefoot and made my way to the water's edge. The sand felt nice between my toes, but my calves and glutes did not appreciate being forced into action. I was about to sit down again when I heard his voice.

"Hey," he said, approaching slowly. He had his keys in one hand and a big towel draped over the other. He smiled when he reached me, and pulled me into his arms. "I've missed you."

I take a deep breath, savoring how it felt to be cherished. "I've missed you too."

With one last squeeze, he ruffled my hair and took a step back. "Let me spread the towel out, and then you can tell me what happened."

I nodded, watching him smooth out the sand then lay the towel out. "Thanks for coming. You think I can get a ride home?"

"No problema chica." He sat down unceremoniously and splayed his legs open. He gave a little tilt of his head and patted the spot in front of him, wordlessly telling me to sit there. "You look a little tired, come here and I'll give you a massage."

I smiled and agreed, letting him pull me down. He took my hair down and ran his fingers thru my hair and massaged my scalp. I let out a long sigh as he made his way slowly down my neck. "Mmmm. Wanna get married?"

He chucked, but continued. "You're a little young, but ask me again in a few years. I'll say yes."

"Promise?" I'd meant to say it teasingly, but his hands were so strong it came out sounding more like a moan.

He kissed my neck and nodded. "Of course. I'd give you the world if I could."

"Mmmm. I don't want the world. All I want is for you to get that knot by your right thumb. Please." Good girl- you kept your voice light this time.

He moved his hand a little lower, pressing his thumb into my tight muscles. His strokes were deep and slow. "As you wish," he whispered kissing my neck once again.

I laughed. "The Princess Bride? What do you think the boys would say if they heard you quoting that chick flick?"

Growling, he stretched his legs out next to mine. "Hey, don't mock my game girly. It worked on you, didn't it?"

Laughing, I looked over my shoulder at him, letting my eyes run up and down his body. "Riiiight. It was your game. Woops. My bad. I thought I agreed to go out with you because you're fricking hot, but whatever."

"Why do I feel like a piece of meat right now?"

"Mmm, if it makes you feel better, you're probably U.S.D.A. Prime A Top Choice or whatever it's called."

"You're bad." He turned me down onto my stomach and straddled my ass. "Maybe I should protect my reputation by telling you ahead of time that this is just a massage. No beach blanket bingo tonight."

"Funny, I thought I was the virgin and you were the playa," I said lazily as he used his elbow on my back.

Leaning down so that his body hovered over mine, he whispered into my ear. "Don't hate the playa, hate the game."

I bit back a moan unsuccessfully as his hands went from the small of my back to the top of my ass. "I… thought… we said… you didn't…. have any game." Damn, he's good with his hands.

He stilled then lifted his hands almost completely off of me. "If you don't like my game, we could always change the rules."

"No!" I groaned, embarrassed. "Smooth, real smooth. Shit, never mind. You might as well stop before I get the urge to shout out bingo or something."

"I told you I got game." He laughed as he rolled me over then lay down next to me. As we stared up at the sky, I could tell that he was waiting for me to tell him why we were here.

Not really knowing where to start, I just blurted it out. "My grandmother said I had no father."

He winced at that, understanding implicitly how that hurt. "Why'd she say that?"

"She was giving me the 'speech' today after I got home from work. She said something about how even tho Mia doesn't have a mom around she still managed to grow into a 'lady' while I had no father but was still acting like a boy or something." The lump was back in my throat. I shrugged, trying to indicate that was all I had to say.

"You know she didn't mean him any disrespect Letty. I know your grandmother, she loves your dad." He took my hand and kissed it. "You know she does."

"I just miss him so much sometimes. It's not fair, why did it have to be him? He didn't deserve this." I roll into his chest and start to cry. "It's not his fault he can't be here."

"No one said that baby." He wrapped his arms around me trying unsuccessfully to comfort me. "What did you say to her?"

Between my sobs I tried to tell him. "I ta, ta, ta, told her I ha ha have a father and tha that she shouldn't say shit like that."

"You do, you have a wonderful father Letty. But you know she's right too, don't you? You stopped wearing dresses when he went away. You were always daddy's little girl, but when daddy left, it's like that part of you left too." He kissed my head and rubbed my back slowly.

"I wore a dress to graduation," I said defensively.

"And you looked very beautiful. But you know I'm right."

"I still work on cars and do all the stuff he used to do." I sigh. "It's not my fault that I changed after he… had to go."

He sighed and gave me another squeeze. "I wish you believed that. I was there Letty, I remember when we found him on the floor after he had his stroke. I rode with you both in the ambulance to the hospital and held you when you cried because we couldn't reach your mom and grandma."

"Dominic, stop… I don't want to think about this," I said on the verge of tears.

"Letty, I'm not trying to push you, I'm just telling you that I was there- I heard you blame yourself. You thought it was your fault then, even though we all told you, even the doctors told you, that it wasn't."

"I'm not eleven anymore Dominic. I know it wasn't my fault."

"Do you? Do you remember what you said to me that night? You said it was your fault he worked so hard and that if you hadn't kept asking him for new dresses, or new toys, or whatever, that he wouldn't have had to work so hard. And then, after his stroke it was as if you were trying to take over for him, fill his shoes."

I was crying in earnest again, my whole body shaking. "He worked too hard. He didn't have time to take care of himself."

"He worked hard because he loved the work AND because he loved you and your mother." Dominic's voice was authoritative, but gentle. "It wasn't your fault Letty. You have to stop blaming yourself."

"I just miss him so damn much Dominic. It hurts so bad sometimes. I thought it would get better, but sometimes I get so tired of stressing about this all the damn time. I never see my mom anymore either 'cause she's always working 'cause there's always bills to pay. That place just costs so damn much Dom. And he's not getting better. Sometimes I wish- I just wish it was over." I've never said it out loud before because I'm ashamed. "I'm a horrible person, aren't I? I'm supposed to be Catholic Dom. Just thinking that shit could send me to hell forever."

Dom propped himself onto one elbow so he could look at me. "Mija, no. You're not a bad person. You're a wonderful person. When my mom… when she was sick, I used to pray that God would take her to heaven so she wouldn't have to suffer anymore. So Mia wouldn't have to watch our mother wither away slowly, or so my father wouldn't stay up all night crying at the kitchen table anymore. If you were a horrible person you wouldn't care that your family is suffering, and you certainly wouldn't blame yourself for it."

I look up at him and give his shoulder a small squeeze. It amazes me how much comfort Dom and I can draw from the small touches we exchange. "Does it still hurt Dom? Missing your mom?"

Dom grimaces and nods as he stretches out beside me once again. "It does. It's been eight years tho, so sometimes… sometimes I forget what she looked like. I know he's not the same Letty, but at least you can go visit your dad and talk to him. He may not be like he was before, but he's in there, somewhere."

"I know." I close my eyes and sigh once again. "I am grateful for that, I am."

"So you good now?"

Without opening my eyes, I smiled and nodded. "Better anyways."

"Good." Dom trailed his fingers over my stomach, tickling me lightly.

I opened my eyes. "Thanks for listening. I know I've been a mess today. I'm glad you're around to make me feel better."

He winked and kissed my chin before sucking gently on my bottom lip. "I'll always be here to make you feel better." He kisses me again, his touch light, more comforting than inviting. "I know this isn't the time mija, but I called in to the clinic today."

I arched my eyebrow and pursed my lips slightly. "And?"

"All system's go."

He looked so excited I had to laugh. "Eager little bastard aren't you?"

Dom slapped my stomach in disapproval. "What did we say about the word 'little' being used to describe me or Big Dom?"

I rolled my eyes and used my best ben stein-like voice to repeat what he'd said two weeks before. "There's nothing little about him."

"Damn Straight." Dom sat up and smirked down at me. "One of these days I'll introduce you. If you're lucky."

"You're so full of shit, you know that Torretto?" I stood up and shook the sand off myself the best I could. I smiled at him so he'd know I was teasing.

Jumping to his feet he pulled me close to him so fast I didn't even have time to blink. "And you love it." He kissed with a purpose this time, branding me so I'd remember I was his.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed him back, determined to fight fire with fire. "Damn Straight Torretto." I pulled him closer to me and realized we were not alone. I sucked on Dom's earlobe as I asked a rather obvious question. "Oh, is that Big D? Does he want to come out and play?"

"Si bonita. He is very eager to meet you." Dom pushed his pelvis into mine while doing his best Antonio Banderas impression.

"You're not playing fair Dom," I said as I scratched his back. "You know how to get me all excited but I don't know what gets you off. You have an unfair advantage."

Dom nuzzled my neck, nibbling. "Honey if you were any better at getting me off I'd be in jail for the rest of my life." Reluctantly he let go of me and grabbed the towel. "Let's get you home before your moms sends the fuzz after me."

I smack his ass playfully and grab my shoes. "Race ya." Not waiting for him to answer, I took off toward the parking lot. Spotting his car I made a mad dash for it, knowing it was futile. Dom was the king of racing- no one ever beat him.

Amazingly I made it to the pay phone before Dom scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder. Still running full speed Dom carried me like it was nothing. When we reached the car he put me down on the hood of the car and kissed my nose. "Nice try kiddo. When you gonna learn that you can't beat me?"

I smiled shyly and ran my hand down the side of his cheek. "You know I like the thrill of the chase. Besides as long as you're with me I can't loose, can I?"

"And I guess that means I didn't technically win either huh? I knew you were hella smart." Pushing my sunglasses down to my nose Dom grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Better keep those bright eyes hidden or else I'll do something I regret."

The drive home was nice and chill, devoid of drama thank God. We talked about the cars we were working on at the garage and the new sponsor that was trying to sign Tony. When we reached my house 20 minutes later, I was almost in as good a mood as I had been before walking in to the kitchen this morning.

We pulled into the drive way and Dom turned the engine off. He leaned back against his door and tilted his head, inviting me over. "Come here mija," he said softly, patting his lap.

Blushing I nodded, fumbling with my seat belt and crawling over onto his lap. "Hey."

"Hey." His kiss was slow but so damn possessive it made my heart stop. His tongue slipped passed his lips and traced my own encouraging them to part. When they did open up for him he deepened the kiss, making me whimper. "Dom," I groaned into his mouth. "I have to go inside."

"Not yet. I want to see you first. I'm going to need something to remember you this weekend." He reclined the seat so that he was staring up at me. He slid his hands up under my tank top, stroking my torso. "Do you trust me mija?"

I nodded, but pushed his hands down, smiling shyly. "Not here Dom. What if someone sees?" I leaned down, intending to give him a good bye kiss, but doing so made me rub myself against… well… Big Dom.

"Oh Christ," Dominic gasped before taking control of the kiss and burying his hands in my hair. I could tell he was shaken, really shaken, by the reaction he'd had to my innocent movement.

Not wanting to get too carried away in my driveway, I broke the kiss, but didn't try to sit up right away. I waited till his breathing started to level out before I carefully went back to the passenger seat. Deciding to ignore what just happened, I played with the door handle and stared out the window. "I take it your dad wants you to go with him this weekend?"

Popping the seat back upright, Dom rubbed his temple. "Yeah. He called the house this afternoon from the pit. He said it like he wanted my help but I think he was worried about something like this happening."

I couldn't help but smile again. "At least you get to watch him compete." I glanced at him, but made the mistake of looking into his eyes. Even though I haven't had that much experience, I could tell he wanted me pretty badly. "Mia can stay over here if she wants. You know my abuela will absolutely love that. Who knows, maybe we'll stay up all night and paint each other's toe nails or something."

"That would be hot if you were doing it with anyone else besides my baby sister," Dom laughed before making a stern face and frowning. "Don't tell Vince. You know the perv'll spend the weekend imagining you two in matching small frilly pink negligees and spanking it."

I gave an exaggerated shudder and laughed as I got out of the car. "Don't worry. I won't." Holding the door open I lean across the passenger seat to give him one last kiss. "Be good, have fun, don't do anything that'll piss me off," I said sweetly.

"Ditto." Dom winked as I closed the door. He started the car and reversed out of the driveway. Just as he was about to pull out, he stopped and rolled down the window. "Hey Leticia?" Giving me a knowing look, he leaned out of his window an motioned for me to come over to him.

I took my sun glasses off the top of my head and buffed them with my shirt before answering. Didn't want the boy to know that I actually liked him calling me by my full name. "Yes Dominic?" I looked to see if anyone was around before shrugging and walking up to his car for what I thought was one last good bye kiss. When I reached the window, I leaned down so that we were eye level. "Miss me already?"

He smiled as he reached up and ran his thumb over my lower lip. He stared at my mouth for a moment before looking deep into my eyes. Dom slowly moved his thumb down to my chin, gently guiding me down so that our lips were nearly touching. "You know I love you right?"

I smiled for the thousandth time since graduation. "I figured."

Grinning, he dropped his hand and moved away slowly. "Hella smart, ain't you mija?" He pulled on his seat belt and ran his hand thru his hair. That was his tell, the sign that he was frustrated. Both he and Tony would rub either do the hair thing or rub their temples when they were aggravated. "I wish you could come with me this weekend. Baby, when this is over and we don't have to hide anymore, it'll be different. I promise. It'll be you and me, no questions asked." He sighed, regret written all over his face. I nodded, once again not trusting myself to speak. This was a side of Dom that no one else got to see, not even Mia. It made me feel so damn amazing that he trusted me enough to let his guard down.

As I watched him drive off, the strangest thought crossed my mind and I had to laugh. We were like an Oreo cookie, the two of us together. Two separate, hard, arguably "dark" entities joined by something soft and pure. Every part of an Oreo is just okay by itself, but when you put it all together the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. There was something really comforting about that. Oreo's might not be the world's most glamorous food, but they'd been around practically forever and would be around forever.