Thanks for all of the reviews. I do appreciate them- all of them!

I'm starting finals now, so my updating will be spotty, but don't worry, I'll finish the story.

Chapter 8- Letty's p.o.v.

Setting up an adoption is never easy. This one was worse than usual. Take one minor, undocumented illegal alien and add one single male with a criminal record, and the result is a freaking headache.

If Dom had asked for any other kind of legal advice, I would have told him to go to hell.

But for Berto… I didn't even charge for the Excedrin.

This kid is Dom's saving grace. I'm not doing any of it for Dom. I'm doing it for Berto.

I took Berto shopping on Saturday to give Dom the day off. Really I just wanted Berto to myself, but it was as good an excuse as any. I'd known him for a handful of days, but Berto just had this… magnetism. Almost like gravity.

We walked by a barber shop and the kid was fascinated. He started chattering faster and faster, reverting to Spanish instantaneously.

I caved of course.

You should have seen Dom's face when the kid and I walked in.

He was… he was proud. Excited and proud.

Dom said he wanted to show Berto off so he made us put our coats back on and took us straight back into the city for dinner.

Of course Dom took us to Paesano's. I shouldn't have been surprised or uncomfortable with it. But I was, and that scared me, I'll admit. They still knew him there- hell they even remembered me. So when we walked in with Berto between us, his head shaved just like Dom's, wearing little Timberlands and the whole bit- I can't say I blame them.

"Senora!" Luca cried out. "Where have you been hiding? With this handsome devil? He looks just like his father!" The restaurant owner squatted down and rubbed Berto's bald head. "But with his mother's Angel eyes!"

I froze. I didn't know what to say. I just let Dom laugh as Luca kissed my cheeks and took my coat.

"This," Dom said proudly, "Is my son Roberto."

In his little boy voice Berto practiced his English. "It is nice to meet you." He looked at Dom apprehensively to see if he got it right. Seeing Dom nod approvingly, Berto puffed up with pride. Just like how Dom does.

When we sat down, Luca gave us a large table so Berto could color. I sat across from Dom and tried not to say anything. We were in public. I'd left making scenes behind when I'd left Dom all those years ago. Alicia Rodriguez did not have fights in public.

"What?" Dom finally said. He was looking at me like I was completely insane.

I HATE IT WHEN HE DOES THAT.

"Couldn't we have gone somewhere else? Anywhere? They think he's ours Dom."

Dom's eyes narrowed. "He is."

"No," I say tightly, trying to keep my voice calm. "He's yours. I'm your attorney in this matter, not your nursemaid."

Dom leans forward across the table and strokes my hand. "You love him. I know you do. Is it because I love him too that you don't want to be part of his life?"

It takes everything in me not to flinch and pull my hand away. His touch burns through my defenses, but I ignore the sensation best I can. Because he's right; that's exactly it. Of course I refuse to tell him that.

"You're wrong. I don't want to be a part of YOUR life Dominic. I don't want you in mine."

My phone starts ringing. Oh thank God. Saved by the bell. I pull it out of my purse and head outside.

"Hello?"

"Baby, where have you been? I've been trying to get you for three days now," David says without bothering with a greeting. "I haven't seen you since that night your ex called. You'd think you'd take the time to at least call your current man to wish him a safe trip."

Where Dom gets pissed, David gets perturbed.

I smile into the phone, enjoying this white-collar version of jealousy. "David, I do believe I gave you one hell of a send off. As I recall, you did black out once or twice, so perhaps you don't remember."

I listen to him laugh, the tension disappearing from his voice.

"I'm sorry I've been m.i.a. You know I was busy with the Anderson case and now I'm trying to help Dom with this thing-"

"What thing?" David asks, not even bothering to hide his curiosity. "He get busted for running a chop-shop or something?"

"Whatever. No, it's nothing like that." Now it's my turn to be tense. "Look, I've already said I'm sorry I haven't been sitting by the phone waiting for your call. When do you get back?"

"Ouch. That was harsh. I don't get back till tomorrow. You're off the hook by the way; the firm is sending a car to meet my flight. Listen, why don't we have dinner and we'll talk about all of this? You can fill me in on what's been going on with you for the last ten days."

I sigh and agree. My guilt about having spent so much time with the boys outweighs my temporary annoyance with my man. Could it really have been three days since I checked my personal messages? "Fine. Dinner sounds good. Your place or mine?"

"Mine, if that's okay." I can tell he's smiling. He's always smiling. He never lets things bother him for very long, so when I'm with him I don't let them bother me for very long either.

"Sure." I've missed having David around. Usually I tell him everything about everything, but somehow I haven't mentioned the Roberto situation yet. "I have a lot to tell you about."

"Okay. I'll call you when I'm home. I miss you baby," he says slowly with just a hint of the southern drawl he's tried to leave behind.

"I miss you too David," I say softly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I hang up and go back inside.

Dom is bent over Roberto, helping the little boy write something.

Berto looks up and sees me then pushes Dom's hands away quickly. He stands up and runs toward me, jumping into my out-stretched arms, careful not to let anything happen to the piece of paper he's brought with him.

"What's this kiddo?" I ask, kissing his smooth bald scalp.

"I made it while you were on the phone. Dominic only helped a little." Roberto hands me the paper and then kisses my cheek.

"In English?" I ask with an encouraging smile.

Biting his lower lip, Berto thinks for a second and then says slowly, "This… is… for you."

"Bien! Very good Roberto. Thank you." I carry him back to the table, set him down in his chair and then look at my gift. It is a picture of three stick figures holding hands: Dominic, Roberto, and I. Robert has written the words Papa and Mama over the figures that represent Dom and I.

My smile falters and I feel Berto's hand in mine. So small and vulnerable. "Dom says he is going to be my new papa cause I don't have one anymore. I don't have a mama either. Will you be my new mama? I think Dom would let you live in our house." Roberto is so eager- for him this is all so simple.

"I don't know what to say Roberto. Thank you so much for asking me, it means a lot to me. But I have my own house. You know that." I look to Dom for help. He is none.

"Are you someone else's mama already?" Berto frowns.

"No, I'm not. If I had a child, I would want them to be just like you." I kiss his forehead again. "Can I keep this?"

"Will you promise to think about being my mama? I'm a very good boy. You say so all the time." Berto is so somber now that it breaks my heart.

"Of course. In the whole world, if I got to choose someone to be my son, I would choose you. If I got to choose to be anyone's mother, it would be yours." I try to smile reassuringly, but my eyes are filling with tears.

Thankfully, that was enough for Roberto for now. He gives me a huge grin, a sloppy kiss and a tight hug, and then turns abruptly back to his coloring.

I look at Dom intending to tell him with my eyes that he was dead for leaving me to suffer. But big bad Dominic was teary-eyed. He actually looked about thirty seconds away from crying.

Dear God, what am I getting myself into?