Disclaimer: Not mine.
Authors Note: All I can say is: Wow. Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews. Your feedback was amazing. I really appreciate it.
- Elizabeth12:
Maybe..... ;)
- GreenGlowChaissis:
I'm only a Letty/Dom pairing fan too. I don't know what wrong with me. This story just materialized in my mind. Truth be told I have no idea where I'm going with it but I know that in someway it will be a Dom and Letty pairing.
- JRodriguez:
That's high Praise! I don't know if I deserve it but thank you so much for it. It made my day. =)
- VinsGal:
I wanted the whole tone of the story to carry this feeling of sadness and defeat, thanks for letting me know I accomplished it. =)
- Foxy-Latina:
Thank girl. With Dom everything will always lead back to Letty (or at least it should ;) Anyway, right now I'm not sure where this is going, only that Dom and Letty are one of my favorite couples.
- Giggles2003:
Thanks for the compliment.
- HipHopStar, Superman240sx, Tempest-races, Three Sisters, Bsktballchik, FlaweDnBrokeN, and Angel1411:
Thank you all soooooooo much for all your incredibly kind words. They really pushed to me continue this story.
*****************************************************
"Are we there yet daddy?" Taylor's quiet voice asked him once again.
They'd arrived around seven thirty and Dom had rented a car. Tay however, had asked if he could please have McDonalds so they'd stopped at one of those while still in the air port district.
Fast Food, hadn't applied since Taylor had chosen that moment to inquire once again about his mother and when she'd be coming home. Had wanted to know how long they were going to visit here and if Mom was okay. All things Dom had no answers too.
So what should have been a fifteen minute stop lasted about thirty-five. They'd walked around the block, slowly, Taylor up in his dad's arms. Talking about things or rather Dom talking and Taylor nodding his little head in complete understanding.
He tried his best to explain to his son that his mother was okay now, that she just wanted to be alone for awhile. Something in him refused to tell the boy that it was over, refused to explain that his mother and father were never going to live together again. He himself, couldn't accept that - wouldn't except that.
He would get Kara. He loved her, needed her. This trip to LA was a pit-stop. Just so he could tell her that he'd followed her advice.
Give it a week and he'd be in Quebec.
One Week.
Definitely. Just a pit-stop.
Some how he'd managed to communicate this feeling to son who seemed more relaxed about his mother not being with them. Taylor had calmed down some.
They were in the car now and Dom was driving slow, the speed limit actually. The stereo had a CD of sing-a-long songs playing. Neither one of them sang along but Tay liked to listen to them, almost as if on the inside he were singing.
Dom didn't hear his son's question, he was busy contemplating how much he'd changed since the last time he'd been here.
Wondering if the Team would even recognize him. He didn't mean physically --he looked almost exactly the same, maybe a little older -- no it was his personality that had changed.
He was harder to anger now, not as easy to goad. Fighting wasn't much of an option anymore, not now that his son was almost always with him --he refused to fight in front of Taylor.
Figuring the kid saw enough fucked up drama when he was with his mom.
He hadn't raced since leaving LA.
That was the biggest change. The fact that he hadn't felt that rush in almost five years.
He had no idea what was going on with the Team beyond the fact that his sister had had twins four and a half years ago.
He didn't know if the guys still raced, hell he didn't even know if they still lived around here.
For all he knew the guys could be married, the garage sold and all of them working nine to five jobs.
A smirk worked its way onto his face and he shook his head slightly. Probably not, though.
"Da-ddyyyyy...." Tay said quietly, elongating the syllables.
"huh?" he said blinking and finding his sons' gaze in the rearview mirror, ...what is it buddy?"
"Almost there?" he asked again.
"Oh yeah, buddy, almost there. Just a few more blocks..." he answered softly looking back at his son. He was in the car seat and had a coloring book propped up on the arm rest.
"You excited?" he asked him smiling.
"Little bit...." the boy said meeting his father gaze in the mirror.
"they gonna like me's?" he asked after a moment and Dom's eyes snapped back to the mirror meeting his.
"If there's one thing I'm positive about in this trip, buddy, its that they're gonna love you..." he answered confidently.
The boy nodded, "good. Its hot here." he added after a moment.
Dom laughed, "Yeah, it is. Its always hot here."
Taylor laughed a little too. He didn't see what was funny but he liked to make his dad happy. It was easy.
Easy to make his dad smile.
Making his mom happy, making her smile... now that was hard...
****************************************************
"Alright buddy we're here." Dom said a few minutes later. He parked on the street outside the house. Figuring since it was almost nine that they'd be home.
He was right. The lights were on and cars were in the drive way. Cars he recognized, cars he didn't.
Taylor didn't fuss to be let out immediately. His mom used to hit his head when he did that. His dad never did but still he didn't do it, just in case.
Dom unbuckled him and pulled him out. Instead of carrying him to the house though, he sat him on the top of the car. So that they were eye to eye.
"Ok Tay. Let me tell you a few things here, Kay buddy."
The boy nodded, paying close attention.
"I haven't seen any of these people in a long time. Your Aunt Mia she's probably going to yell or cry or something, okay. And she's going to hug you really hard, most likely. I know you don't like that but you just gotta bear with her, Kay."
"I have to take it like a man..." Taylor responded his eyes lighting up.
Dom arched his eyebrow, "who said that to you?" he questioned his lips turning up slightly.
"Mom, afore she wents. She said I had to be a big boy and take it like a man." Taylor responded smiling. He had been very honored that his mother had referred to him as a man and was at the moment overjoyed that he was a man again.
"Well..." Dom started wondering what else Kara had told their son. "you get to show me those man-like skills tonight and let her hug you and kiss you and stuff, Kay."
The boys smiled died a little and he said nothing.
"Okay." Dom prompted.
"Okay." he said the smile gone completely now, his voice deadpan.
Taylor hated being hugged and kissed against his will. If you asked and he said okay it was fine. If he came to you and started hugging you it was fine. But for anyone to come up to him and just start hugging and picking him up was intolerable. It was one of the few times he'd act his age. He'd throw a tantrum fit for a prince.
"Your promise, Little Man, that's what I want, no tears or screaming or kicking or biting." Dom wanted to make sure.
He sighed dramatically, "okay, I promise. Can we go nows...." he asked excitement tingeing his voice for the first time.
Dom nodding and took him in his arms. Crossing the street he stood before the door of his home.
But it wasn't his anymore, New York was his home now.... and he couldn't --wouldn't-- forget that.
New York. Kara. That was his life now.
This house was Mia's home, now. Her family lived here now.
Instinct told him to push the door open, to turn the knob, to check for the key he knew to be hidden inside one of the loose shingles, but he didn't.
He rang the doorbell.
No one answered. He placed Tay on the ground and knocked rather loudly.
"Coming...." a voice sounded on the other side.
Taking a deep breath Dom waited. The door swung open to reveal his very pregnant little sister.
Mia's mouth fell open but no sound came out, her hand reached up and she covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes.
Still though she made no sound, rather she studied his face --then carefully as if to make sure he was corporal she reached out and touched his face.
Lightly he felt the feathery touch and smiled, she withdrew her hand quickly as if burned. "Oh my god." she whispered softly. The tears spilling out quietly.
His smile started to die then, this wasn't the reaction he'd expected. He'd expected her to scream and throw her arms around him. Expected her to jump into his arms and yell at him for not calling, for not visiting...
This.... this teary wonder wasn't what he'd expected. This worried him.
"Mia?..." he questioned softly his brow furrowing as he took a step forward towards her.
"oh God... Dom?" she whispered and her, now shaking, hands reached out again, this time touching his chest and shoulders, this time pulling him into an embrace.
He wrapped his arms around her small frame, feeling the bulge of her belly, smiling at what that meant. Her hair against his face made him sigh.
Mia, his sweet, baby sister. Some one who would always do this, no matter what, she'd always take him into her arms and hug him, comfort him.
As long as he let her, she'd be on his side.
As long as the other side wasn't.... hers.
"Dom..." she pulled back and stared him in the eyes. Her own identical to his were wide and wet. A smile was slowly working its way onto her face.
Wonder was giving way to shock. "Oh my god...." she murmured, her voice beginning to rise.
Shock was giving way to excitement. "DO... DOMINIC!" she exclaimed finally and threw her arms around his neck.
Now she squeezed with all her Mia enthusiasm and he laughed, squeezing her just as hard.
"Surprise..." he murmured, still laughing.
"Oh my god.... I can't...." her hands were flapping in the air and she was smiling and crying and scanning his face with her eyes all at once.
"...I mean.... oh my god... get in here." she said grabbing his arm and beginning to yank him inside.
He stopped her though and looked down to Taylor who hadn't so much as made a peep.
Taylor who hadn't taken his eyes off this Aunt and his father.
Taylor who's little head was shaved like his dad's, who wore little baggy jeans, a black tee-shirt, and mini Nike's.
Mia followed his gaze.
"Oh my..." she said softly meeting the boys gaze.
She kneeled down as best she could and looked into her nephews eyes for the first time. "Hi" she said gently. Smiling.
"What's your name?"
He looked up at his father, who nodded.
"Taylor Dominic Torreto." the boy replied with all the seriousness of an adult.
"Well, Taylor Dominic Torreto would you like to come inside." she replied gently.
It was God himself and all his angels that were keeping Mia from squeezing the life out of this child.
"Sure" he replied casually.
"Good." She started to stand, no simple task. And Dom reached out to help her.
"I can't believe your here." she said as she led them inside, tears overflowing again.
"I've missed you so much." she said to her brother. Her heart in her eyes, "you've missed so much." she added after a moment.
"I know." he said softly.
*****************************************************
She'd finally managed to get the girls down.
No simple task when their father allowed them ice cream just before bed. But Brian hadn't been able to attend their soccer game and felt guilty, so he'd come home with the fixings for sundaes.
Mia hadn't had the energy to prohibit it, so she'd watched from the table as Brian and Jessa scooped ice cream into bowls and Dolly had decorated them.
She'd laughed when Dolly had sprayed whip cream on her father and giggled when Jessa spooned an enormous chunk of ice cream into her mouth. She'd devoured her bowl along with the girls and asked for more cherries.
Then Brian had offered to clean up while she got the girls ready and into bed.
That had been over half an hour ago. He'd come upstairs briefly but she'd sent him away. The girls had been calming down by then and she knew if they saw him, it would be midnight before she'd get them down.
Sighing, she rubbed her belly, in two months she'd have another to deal with. The thought brought a small smile to her lips.
The door bell rang then but she was at the top of the stairs and figured Brian would get it.
Taking her time in coming down the stairs she heard a strong, rather loud knock through the wooden door.
Sighing heavily, she called out, "Coming..."
It was Leon, she knew it was. No one but one of the Team would come over this late. Vince was busy tonight and Letty always called, so it had to be Leon.
Preparing her usual repartee, she swung the door open.
Only in her dreams was that person ever standing on the other side.
She'd had many of them in the last five years, this one had to be one of them. But still.... Dom
Unconsciously her eyes filled with tears and her hand covered her open mouth.
It had to be a dream, he never came home, he never even called...it was always a dream...
Yet...
Tentatively she reached out and touched his face. She felt it... you couldn't feel dreams!!....
"Oh my god..." she whispered as tears spilled from her eyes. It wasn't a dream...
He was here....
Such a small thing, but such a huge thing. Her brother was here....
Dom had left a great big, gaping hole in her life. Things had been hard enough then, complicated enough, confusing enough.
Her relationship with Brian had still been a little shaky and they were all still hurting over Jesse. And when Dom had left, Letty too had gone. They hadn't heard from her for about six months after that.
Over night everything had changed, for all of them, all because he'd left. He'd left them...
She'd been angry at first, how could he do that? Just abandon them, his responsibilities to them, to her. How could he just leave!
Anger had faded though and then she'd cried. Cried because she missed him, cried because he was alone out there, cried because everything had changed, because their way of life had ended.
Because he'd closed a chapter in their lives and had given them no say over it. Because in commandeering his own fate, he altered their... and he didn't care.
Then though, that she'd just wanted him home. It had taken a while for things to settle down but they had. Everyone had found a new niche, a new life.
Still though, they'd held loosely in their minds, vaguely in their thoughts, briefly in their acts, memories of this man.
"Mia...?" he asked her as he took step forward, breaking into her thoughts. His voice worried, and with that single word uttered in that unforgettable voice, she began to shake.
"Oh God....Dom?" she asked softly, still not able to believe it. She touched, his shoulder his chest, feeling the material of the shirt, the skin of his arms.
And just drew him into a hug. One not full of fervor but full of tenderness, one just to make sure he really was real.
Pulling back she met his eyes, "Dom...." she said a smile touching her lips, her eyes shining with tears.
Her brother was here!
"Oh My God..." she said her voice rising as the full impact of that thought hit her.
"DO...DOMINIC!!" she squealed and threw her arms around him.
He held her tight, almost as tight as she him. "Surprise..." he murmured in her ear. And his laughter soothed her, no matter what had happened --he still knew how to laugh.
In a state of euphoric shock she uttered a few words and attempted to pull him inside. He stopped her though and for a moment she thought he was denying her, then she followed his gaze.
Her world stood still.
"Oh my..." was all she could say as she studied him.
It wasn't just that he was a miniature of her brother or that he was looking up at her with soulful dark eyes, it wasn't just that he had a rather timid yet defiant look on his face or that he stood just behind his father that made Mia melt.
No, it was the sheer impact of realizing this was....
This was.... her nephew.
"hi." she whispered. Some instinct she didn't recognize, an intuition about this child that assaulted, her told her he wouldn't appreciate being squeezed.
"What's your name?" she asked him just as gently, kneeling to be at his eye level.
His voice was solemn as he answered and she loved him more. He responded like an adult so she invited him inside like an adult.
"I can't believe your here." she said as she led them inside, tears overflowing again.
"I've missed you so much...." she said to her brother as they stood in the living room. Her heart in her eyes, "....you've missed so much." she added after a moment.
"I know." he said softly.
"Mia you finished with the girls...." Brian's step and voice faltered as he entered the living room to find his brother-in-law standing there as if he'd never left.
He studied Dom as well as his tiny replica before allowing a full blown grin to appear on his face.
"Dom..." he said, his voice not holding an iota of surprise.
No he wasn't surprised to see Dom, he was pleased, he thought it was long overdo but he wasn't surprised and this came across in his tone.
"The prodigal King returns." He added joyfully, as he walked forward, his eyes sparkling.
"Brian" Dom said and the men gave each other a manly hug.
"'bout time you showed up here." Brian said motioning towards the sofa. He didn't seem very surprised and that irked Mia. She on the other hand was having a hard time stopping the tears.
Still clinging to Dom's arm she couldn't take her eyes off Taylor.
"And whose this?" Brian asked when they all sat, Taylor on Dom's lap, Mia sitting as close as possible without sitting on him.
She kept touching him as if she still couldn't believe it.
"This is Taylor, my son." Dom said looking at Brian seriously. His eyes telling him to leave it at that.
Brian got the message and transferred his gaze back to Taylor, "Hey kid. I'm Brian." He said and outstretched his hand.
Taylor buried his face in his dad's chest. He didn't feel like having good manners, right now. It was late, he was tired, and he was in strange place with a lady that kept looking at and crying.
He wanted to go home. But he had to be a man. So instead of crying he shut his eyes and hid against his dad.
"You tired buddy." Dom asked, his voice soft.
Taylor nodded against him. And Dom shifted him so that the boys' head was on his shoulder. Within moments his eyes were closed and his breathing evened out.
Dom looked up at his sister and shrugged slightly, "its been a long day." he explained.
Mia nodded, her eyes still teary. She stood and made a move to take Taylor from Dom.
"Naw, its okay I got him" he said just as softly.
Mia met his gaze a moment then nodded, "okay then, go lay him on your bed."
At that Dom's brows rose, "my be...."
"Of course." she interrupted. "...Your bed, in your room, in your house." she continued slowly, emphasizing each word as she met his gaze firmly. Clearly expressing where she stood on his visit.
"Alright." he said smirking as he stood.
His steps sounded loud in the silent hallway as he walked the path he'd traveled billions of times in his life.
All the doors to the bedrooms were open: all but one - his.
Opening the door slowly he expected to see everything as he'd left it, untouched, that was just how Mia was.
It startled him, to see a different comforter on the bed and curtains up and rug that hadn't been there.
Of course, he thought to himself as he laid Taylor down, Its been five years.
It saddened him though, he understood. But it hurt somehow that Mia had changed his room around. Maybe it was because it had never occurred to him that she would but it felt wrong.
Shaking the feeling away he walked around it, forcing himself to take note of the changes, so he'd remember - New York, Kara.
At first glance the room looked ready for any guest. On closer inspection, though, he saw the only guest that would ever stay here would be him. Considering the half empty bottle of cologne he'd left was still on the dresser and the clothes he'd left still in the drawers and the shoes he'd left still in the closet.
A smile touched his lips, not untouched but unchanged.
It was still his room. He'd sleep here tonight...
You call out her name when we make love....
The smiled died abruptly as Kara's words, for millionth time, hit him like swarming killer bees.
They'd slept in that bed. Technically, speaking this was their room.
A ragged sigh escaped his lips, this was all Kara's fault for putting her in his thoughts. It had been years since he'd given Letty any space in his mind, he didn't have time for it. Didn't have the energy for it, for dealing with something that was over, something that had never had a future.
They'd never had a future. He repeated in his head, just to solidify the thought in his mind.
Truth was, he'd given the entire Team as little thought as possible, it was the only way he'd been able to stay away.
Before leaving he put both pillows on either side Taylor to make sure the boy didn't fall. He smoothed the boys shaved head tenderly, hoping he didn't have a bad dream. As he exited the room he left the door open.
Now that he didn't have the child in his arms, Dom stood in the hallway and studied each room from the outside.
The master bedroom that had remained untouched when he lived here was now Brian and Mia's.
Leon's room was decorated in pastel yellows and greens --obviously this would be the new baby's room.
Vince's room belonged to the girls now. This room was shadowed and had two small figures lying on two twin beds separated by about six feet.
Almost against his will, he found his feet leading him into this room. This room that held his.... his nieces.
He stood there, between the two beds.
Stood there looking down at their sleeping forms.
Stood there falling in love.
One was dark --inheriting her mothers coloring, dark hair, and although he couldn't see them, probably her dark eyes.
The other fair --inheriting her fathers pale skin, blonde hair and probably his blue eyes too.
Their feature were identical though --same delicate eyebrows, round faces, button noses...
"Cute huh?"
Dom jumped.
"Sorry." Brian said grinning, then after a moment added. "We figured you'd find your way here. Mia would've come up but stairs aren't her friends right, now." his tone was hushed so as to not wake the girls.
Dom said nothing just continued to study them.
"That's Jessa..." he said pointing to the dark haired one. "...and that's Dolly." he said motioning to the paler child.
Mmmmm, Dom thought, thought it was the other way around...
"There.... there beautiful." he said and had never meant anything more truthfully.
"I like to think so but I'm a little biased." he was grinning. "Come on." Brian added after a moment and led the way out. He turned to see Dom still staring at the girls, from the door he said wryly, "You can meet them tomorrow."
Dom nodded. Tomorrow.
*****************************************************
"Goodness, could you take any longer." Mia exclaimed from the base of the stairs.
Brian laughed, "this one here's fascinated with the girls."
Mia smiled taking Dom's arm the second he was near enough and dragging him to the sofa.
"First off I have to start by telling you that I love you." she said seriously, although she had a smile firmly planted on her face.
"I love you too." he said gently. Thinking that she was still a sweetheart.
"Good." she said firmly, then paused. "Now I want you tell me, honestly, truthfully, without holding back: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU."
It caught Dom off guard, the anger in her voice, the fire in her eyes. She was quiet suddenly furious. Her voice hadn't risen at all, in fact taking note of her firmly pasted smile he wondered how she'd managed to communicate so much fury.
"Wha...what?" he choked, puling his arm form her grasp before she cut off all circulation.
"You don't' call, you don't write, you don't send a fucking email. Then last week a I get a call from your WIFE. Mind you, you call about three years earlier and tell me your MARRIED and you have a SON then you hang up. I don't here anything from you since then, until YOUR WIFE calls me!!" her voice was beginning to rise and she had basically cornered Dom against the side of the sofa.
"Whoa, whoa, there baby..." Brian said taking her forearms and drawing her back. "relax. He's here now and I'm sure he'd love to tell you everything.... later.... tomorrow.... in week. We have time, right Dom?"
Dom didn't answer. Time. He was here for a week at the most. That was the plan. Spend a week here. Go to Quebec, get Kara, go home.
"Right, Dom?" Mia parroted her husband. Her eyes boring into Dom's. "After all now that your here.... you have to stay for the baby. And you haven't spent any time at all with your nieces and I don't know my nephew. I mean you weren't here for the girls, so you have to be here for this one. Right? Its only a few weeks away..." She was looking at him with those intense brown eyes.
"Mia... I... I wasn't planning on being here that long." he said hesitantly.
Her reaction was unexpected, in fact everything Mia was doing was unexpected. Huge tears spilled instantaneously from her eyes and she buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook and sobs could be heard coming from her.
"oh honey..." Brian said turning her to him and glaring at Dom. "Look what you did." he said angrily, blue eyes flashing.
"wh....what?" he said moving closer, "Don't cry Mi, I... didn't say we'd leave right away. I..."
The tears didn't stop. "...I... we're not going to leave tomorrow or anything..." he tried to comfort but it wasn't working.
"I want you to be here for the baby..." she wailed quietly, her bottom lip quivering.
"I... I can't... I have the to get back... to the garage." he said and that perked up her interest.
"Garage?" she questioned. "what garage?"
"I own a body shop in Manhattan." he answered.
She wiped her eyes, "interesting. Where's your wife?"
Dom actually jumped a little and the filter between his mouth and brain turned off, "what's wrong with you?" he asked his little sister without thinking, he was aghast at her uncanny reactions. It was throwing him completely off balance.
Brian threw his head back and laughed, "its the pregnancy. It makes her abnormal."
She elbowed him in the stomach, shooting him a glare, "I am NOT abnormal..."
"Your not acting like you usually do." Dom said reasonably.
"Okay so maybe I get a little... emotional when I'm a pregnant." she conceded her dark eyes shining, "But seriously, where's your wife."
Dom hesitated, but he could never keep anything from Mia anyway, she'd bug him and pester him until he told her, so why not get it over with. "Kara and I are separated... temporarily." he added quickly.
Mia nodded.
"Do you love her Dom?" she asked him.
And quite suddenly the mood changed. She had meant it to come out teasingly, sort-of anyway.
It hadn't though.
The words, although lighthearted in her head had had a profound intonation to them when uttered aloud.
Dom felt that upon his answer many things would rely. His answer would determine the entire tone of this visit. It would tell Mia where'd he been with his life, where he was going with it.
He met her gaze, "Yes. I do." he said firmly. "I love her very much."
Mia held his gaze an extra moment before nodding. Then she shook her head as if to dispel thoughts, "oh god I can't believe your here." she said again smiling. "I have to call the guys." she said her tone light as she stood.
Dom shook marveling at the way she hopped from mood to mood, he stared after her in wonderment. "my god, was she always like that."
Brian laughed, "When's she's pregnant she can touch upon every emotion possible to the human being in one conversation."
Dom laughed, "She's unique, that's for sure."
"She's missed you."
"I've missed her."
"Could've fooled us." Brian said, his tone rather sharp.
"Don't." Dom replied in turn.
"Vince's is at a race..." Mia informed them as she came out from the kitchen dialing on the cordless.
"Leon's probably home..."
"Actually Mia would you mind not calling them. Like I said, its been a long day." Dom said standing.
"oh." she said a little disappointed as she put the phone down. "sure. Um, okay. We'll see them tomorrow, then."
Tomorrow.
He nodded. "thanks. I'm going to head up."
"I'll come with. Brian get some linens from the closet." she said as she walked over to the stairs.
They made there way up and into the bedroom silently. Both lost in their own thoughts.
There was so much she wanted to know, to say to him.
There was so much he wanted to ask her, to tell her.
Neither one dared.
"He's precious." Mia said quietly as she looked down at her nephew.
Dom smiled, "Go ahead. Mi" he said condescendingly.
She grinned at him before gently scooping his little body into her arms. "He's three right." she asked.
He nodded.
"When's his birthday?"
"April 17" Dom answered.
She nodded, feeling his warm skin and soft hair while trying to jostle him as little as possible. Once again instinctively knowing the boy would throw a fit if he woke in the arms of a stranger.
Brian came up a few moments later but left right away saying he'd be in their bedroom. Mia offered to make the bed but Dom told her no. To just sit and hold Taylor. She was more than happy to comply.
She studied her brother as he made the bed. He knew what he was doing.
He'd learned - out there.
Because here in this house. There had always been someone to make his bed. If not her than Letty...
Letty.
Oh god Letty....
A smirk tilted her lips unconsciously, Letty was going to freak.
Leticia Medina had returned from her little adventure after her break up, a new woman. The garage wasn't her life anymore. In fact it wasn't even part of her life anymore. She had a new passion. One she'd already begun when she'd come back.
Happily she'd shared it with them, living at the house in the beginning but then it realizing it would be more convenient for her if she moved.
So without a single qualm - she had.
At first she had not wanted the name Dominic mentioned in her presence .
With time though, she became the one to ask Mia about him. How he was doing, if she'd heard from him...
That was when Mia had understood that the relationship between her brother and best friend was over. When Letty could sit there and talk about as if he were only her best friends brother.
"Okay you can put him down now." Dom's words cut into her thoughts.
"huh? oh right." she said standing from the chair and carefully laying the boy down.
For a moment they stood there. Brother and sister. Staring at each other. Both with so much to say. Both not daring to be the first.
"I'm happy your home." Mia said softly
This isn't home. New York - Kara. Dom repeated to himself.
But he couldn't say it, not to his sister.
So he didn't say anything he just looked at her. Knowing she could read it in his eyes.
Mia could read it. She'd been reading it all night. She just wasn't accepting it. She wasn't going to lose him again. Dom could go live in New York if he wanted but his home was here. And she wouldn't let him forget that.
Sighing, "Come here" he said after a moment and took her in his arms. Placing a kiss on the top of her head he said warmly, "good-night Mia."
"'night. Sleep in as late as you want tomorrow. Kay." she said as she headed for the door.
"Thanks." he said smiling. Knowing he'd be up eight-thirty. A new habit of his she'd be surprised at but would have to get used to.
She shut the door softly. And Dom sighed as he sat on the bed.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Mia wasn't going to let him just leave. And now that he was here, could he just leave without waiting for the baby. After it was just a few weeks.
And getting to know those precious girls was a priority in his life suddenly. Working at his garage sounded appealing. Hanging out with the guys would be fun.
He could stay a few weeks....
Until the baby was born.......
Then, though, he'd go find Kara. He'd sing to her and buy her diamonds and promise her a trip to Italy. Anything and everything it took to make her give them another chance.
In the meantime, he thought as he undressed and put on boxers and wife beater. In the meantime, he'd hang here for awhile. Take his boy to a race. Maybe race one....
He lay on the bed and slid into sleep almost immediately. In that instant though, before unconsciousness takes over he remembered, with vivid clarity the person who used to sleep where his son now lay. Remembered, clearly that she too would be here - somewhere - in this life, while he waited for the baby and met his neices and hung out with boys.
This life had her somewhere in it. He didn't know exactly where she fit anymore but he knew she was here somewhere.
He'd deal with that tomorrow, though.
Tomorrow.
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Author's Note #2:
I'm sorry to say this chapter isn't quite up to the par of the first..
I was in a mood when I wrote the first. (You all know those moods: when the story writes itself and you just type ;)
Yeah so anyway. I tried with this one, its been finished for three days and its still not where I want it to be. So I just posted it anyway.
Hope you enjoyed.
