A/N: So… it has been more than a little while, but here I go… it has been over a year, and I am going to finally go on with the story. I hope all my old fans… and new ones… don't murder me, but lets get this shit finished aight?

Isabella's POV:

Counting backwards from 10 to 1 I calmed myself down enough to sit up against the bed. There was pain shooting throughout my chest area, but I was going to get through it if it killed me. Letting my head fall back I looked at the picture of Dom and I kissing again. That day I was so happy for both Dom and I, yet I don't remember why. The little things, I had to focus on the little things. Dom and I loved each other. I don't know why. There isn't a why, we just do. I had answered my own question. The anger that I felt for Dom and the heart ache right now, I didn't know where that had come from. It was really quiet in the house and I was starting to wonder if I was alone.

There was a black sweatshirt sitting in a pile in front of me. It smelled like Dom. Had no one done chores while I was in the hospital? I shook my head, that didn't matter. I had to eat something. I changed into a pair of jeans… it took quite a bit of work, but I put them on and began my trek down stairs.

Thinking it would be easy, and going through this much pain, just for a lousy plate of food was ridiculous. I got dizzy on the first step and it got harder to breath. Halfway down I wanted to stop, but wouldn't allow myself to. They were just stairs… stairs that Dom had carried me up the first time. Stairs that I didn't take the brut of on the first time here… no, the first time since that damn accident. It was so confusing, but I figured out that the kitchen was downstairs and I had to get there if it killed me… and it just might. There were only three steps left when my foot wouldn't co-operate. I was exhausted. I grinded my teeth together and lifted my foot setting it down on the next step and going down with it.

DOM'S POV:

After Mia left I sat in the kitchen holding a Corona, thinking. Izzy was my whole world and now there was nothing I could do for her… She didn't know who I was, except her boss. What the hell? This is all Monica's fault. That little tramp had ruined everything for me. I should of walked away and told her to talk to Jesse or Vince. They wouldn't of minded. God… Izzy… She better get better.

I took the rest of the Corona in a single swig. Mia could be happy with Brian. He had a lot of explaining to do after last year, but now, he was an ok guy. He had been here for us like we were family the whole time. Now Isabelle had walked into our lives… she had a past, but we knew about it from the beginning. She has a daughter, Emma. Emma. That poor little girl, what she has been put through and she doesn't even know. She is still too young. Poor thing.

A huge thump in the other room had Dom up and running, actually knocking over the chair that he had been sitting in. Entering the living room he could see to the other side of the hall where Izzy was laughing on the floor.

I ran to her, "Baby, are you ok?" Confusion had set over his face.

She couldn't stop laughing until she saw my face. There were tears in her eyes, but not from pain. I was on my knees already cupping her in my arms. "I'll be ok." She was looking at me as I stood up, holding her close to me, not wanting to let her go. "Dom, I'm ok. I just missed the last step. I guess I'm not as strong as I thought I was." Shrugging she stopped talking and looked at me intently. "Kiss me… right now Dom."

I did what she asked without a moment's hesitation. I needed it much more than she did, so I leaned in and took her mouth with mine, slowly for her. I didn't let out tongues touch as my body was aching for. I didn't bring her upstairs and throw her on the bed. I made it slow and sweet. What I thought she needed.

I pulled back. "What were you coming down for?"

She giggled. "Food."

Shaking my head I carried her into the kitchen and sat her lightly down on a chair. "Ok… what do you want?"

Izzy's POV:

There was an empty bottle of Corona in front of me and a manila envelope addressed to me sitting at the chair Dom had placed me in. I had an urge to say I wanted him, but I bit my lip and asked what there was in the fridge. Standing in front of it he wouldn't let me see. He looked back and said sadly, beer. My eyes were wide open then. "Are you serious?" When he just nodded I asked if he could call in for pizza and we could have pizza and a beer. No more than one for me he wanted me to promise so I did. "Just lots of meat and did I say lots of meat?" We both smiled at that.

While Dom was on the phone with a local pizza joint I started pulling at the manila envelope. It opened easily enough and there were pictures inside with a note. I grabbed the note first, not caring about the pictures.

Isabella,

I know this may come as a shock to you, but this is mom. I know you hate me, but I had a private investigator find out where you were. I need to talk to you. Art doesn't know I have contacted you or else he would of killed me himself. I am planning on running away from him. What he did to you and your sisters I can never forgive myself for. It is too late to press charges, but I think it is time to start making it right again. Art is going out of town on business to New York in about two weeks. On Feb. 25, I will be on a plane going to live with your father and his wife for a short time until my divorce is finalized and I feel safe again. I am so sorry to what happened to your father. I know I can never repay that one. Emma remembers you. I tell her to call me 2ma. In private I tell her about you so that she won't forget. I show her your picture. At first it was your old high school pictures, but now I have the ones that P.I. got for me. I made sure she wouldn't forget because on this day… she is yours again. If you look there is another piece of paper in the envelope… one my lawyers have drawn up stating that you have full-custody of my grand-daughter. I love you baby girl. Always have. Never stopped worrying about you. Not once. I do not like this racing I am hearing about, but you look so happy with that man of yours. Dominick is it? Such a handsome man. I sure hope he is making you happy. Do not ever let him hurt you. No one should ever hurt you baby girl. Alright I have written too much and I do not want Art to catch me. Emma will need to get picked up from the Day Care on Feb. 25. I already talked to the managers. They will know who you are and let you take her home. They have her stuff too. I have told them what has been going on with Art and I. So little by little I have brought her stuff over. I love her and never let him hurt her. Don't worry about that. Just worry about raising that little girl. Your trust fund account is still open if you need it to take care of Emma. I know you will do your best. Sorry this is so long. You know how I am when it comes to letters. I just go on and on. I love you. I want you to remember that.

Mom

Not waiting I dumped the pictures out on the table. They were all of Emma, one or two with my mom. There were some pictures of Dom and I at a race. One of him spinning me around. Another of me in the hospital and a couple of me shopping at the grocery store. I set all the ones of Dom and me aside and began looking at my Emma. Tears sprung to my face. I didn't see the typed piece of paper though. I grabbed the manila envelope off the floor and found it. I read it three times. Emma was officially mine. I was smiling so big… I was so happy, but what would Dom say? Did we have a strong enough relationship to bring my daughter into the picture? I didn't remember. I put the letter and the lawyer's letter back in the manila envelope, pretending they weren't there. I would have to think about whether or not I was going to tell him. Whether or not I needed to find a new place to go.

"Dom, look at my baby girl," was all I could say.

He was smiling as he peeled through the pictures. Most were newer, but some were from when she was just born. Then one or two of me breast feeding her. Her brown curls toppled over her head and tears were running down my face.

"My mom did this," I said. He was picking through every single picture, one at a time. Taking in every feature of my little girl. I started to put them away… just the ones of Emma. I couldn't look at her right now. I didn't know Dom enough to share something so special with him, or maybe I did and just didn't remember.

I left the ones of me, of us on the table. He just sifted through them one at a time. "I like this one," he said indicating the one after the race. Where he had spun me around.

"Well… lets frame it." I said. "I need something to drink… do I still have some Lipton ice tea in there?" I did. Dom brought it to me. I wanted to tell Dom that I loved him, but the words couldn't come out. They were stuck. I put the manila envelope in the pocket of the hoodie.

"Isabella… I need to ask you something." It was simple enough, but the way he had worded it, made it sound so meaningful. I just nodded for him to go on. I didn't trust my voice right then. "Umm…" he sighed as if in defeat. "Do you want to have dinner in bed?"

A/N: Was that what he was really going to ask? I don't think so… do you? You'll find out in the next segment, and I promise it won't be a year to write the next one… hopefully only a day or two… lol.