Author's Note:

Here's the next chapter. Just like I promised. Tomorrow I'll post the next one.

Thank you so much for the reviews.

Scootergirl --

Yeah, I figure that as Dom gets older and because of his son he'd learn how to control his temper, a little at least. ;)

Greenglowchassis --

Bittersweet is the feeling I'm going for, after all so many things in life are. As for Dom and Letty, they'll have their moments. Thank you so much for you encouragement, it means a lot to me.

Maile --

Here's the next chapter.

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Silence reigned, after her departure.

Dom spoke softly after a moment, "I'm sorry, that was my fault, I..."

"No, it wasn't, Dom, it wasn't you." Mia insisted quickly, cutting him off.

"Exactly what happened?" Vince demanded, rather calmly.

"Sonya asked Dom a few questions." Leon said as neutrally as possible.

Understanding dawned quickly, he sat down next to Dom, "She's real curious is all bro."

Leon nodded, "yeah, don't go gettin mad or nothing."

Brian continued, "She was just..."

Dom stood abruptly, "It wasn't her fucking fault. It was me. I freaked out. She asked an innocent question and I lost it. 'Kay."

He felt angry, suddenly.

Angry about the way they were justifying his actions.

Had it always been this way? Had they always insisted on blaming everyone but him -- for stuff he did?

"'Kay." Vince said nodding, looking a little taken aback.

"yeah, ok." Leon agreed.

"Everyone gets to lose it sometimes, Dom. It's okay. Sit and let's eat." Mia added gently.

There it was again...

...that desire to growl.

What the hell was going on here? They were treating him like he was insane... soothing him as if he were...

...a wild animal.

Kind of like the way he'd behaved last time he was here... savagely.

Looking into there faces he saw nothing but acceptance... he could beat someone to a bloody pulp and they'd justify it for him, make it right --actually, he had.

He could do no wrong? Is that it? Was that how they thought?

It was a daunting realization.

Looking around in the awe of new understanding, he found in her eyes the judgment absent from everyone else's.

In them there was no acceptance.

It was the other extreme he supposed, in her eyes he could do no right.

Shaking his head, he strode out of there. He had to, or else he'd say or do something wrong. Something he wouldn't be able to take back.

Jesus christ, how the hell was he going to stay here for a month when he couldn't even handle two days.

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"You don't think he's leaving do you?" Mia asked, trying to get up as quickly as she could.

"Of course not, girl." Letty said stopping her, her eyes on the man's retreating back.

"He's upset, that's all." Brian soothed, his eyes were troubled though.

"Sonya's right, I forgot to tell her about Dom's Don't's." Vince said shaking his head.

"I don't think it's that bad," Leon offered, "at least not bad enough for him to leave."

"What exactly did she ask?" Letty questioned, sitting.

"About Taylor's mother, where she was and why he and Taylor weren't with her." Mia said softly.

After a moment Brian smirked, "It'd be good to know." he said softly.

"But not unless he wants us to, you know what'll happen if we push too hard." Mia argued.

"Okay honey, okay." Brian said, rubbing a hand across her back. "Why don't we eat."

The others were silent.

"We might as well." Leon said.

"I gotta go find Sonya." Vince stated as he left.

Mia sighed, "So much for the first barbecue."

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He found her on the front steps, sitting as if waiting for someone. The look on her face told him it wasn't him.

"I apologize for my vile questioning, which affronted you so." she said in a haughty tone, sniffling a little, "...it's the last thing I'd have wanted to do to the Great Dom, who apparently is not subject to the questions of mere mortals."

Dom grinned a little as he sat down next to her, "Kinda brainy aren't ya to be datin V."

She glared at him, through fresh tears and he felt instantly remorseful, she obviously didn't get the joke. He would've apologized if she hadn't stood in flash to stand in front of him.

"You are a jerk Dominic Torreto." she stated hotly, firmly. "I don't see what the big deal with you is, everyone's like 'ooooh we miss him so much, we wish he was here, if he was here blah blah blah blah blah' ITS RIDICULOUS. I can't believe I even wanted to meet you. You have turned out to be such a complete jackass, your not even worth the brain cells I wasted listening to stories about you. Your sister has been worried sick for YEARS about you and you don't have the common decency to put her mind to rest even a little after all this time. She's afraid to ask you a question!!! And you have the audacity to sit there and question my dating methods.... for your information I happen to love Vince and..."

"Good, cause he deserves that." Dom stated firmly cutting her off. He stood up and strode towards her. "You can pack a lot of oxygen into those lungs, can't ya kid."

She glared again, lifting her chin, "I'm not..."

"I came to find you so I could apologize." he stopped her, "What happened back there was my fault and although I find your opinion of me rather amusing I suggest you keep it to yourself, unless you want my pregnant sister to shit a brick."

Then he smiled at her.

And Sonya just stared at him open mouthed, she had just insulted the guy right?

He wasn't dense enough to not have gotten that, and according to talk Dominic Torreto didn't take insults lightly.

"I... I don't get you..." she said still gaping at him.

He shrugged, "You don't have to, kid."

She shook her head, wiping at her tears, god I'm such a baby, she thought, staring at him, "They talk about you like your a god at this place... I expected you to be... different."

He shrugged again, his dark eyes boring into hers, "Get over it, I didn't mean to get you so fuckin upset, sometimes I forget not everybody's used to the way I am." he paused, looking her up and down much the same way she had done to him when they'd met.

"I realize I did upset you..." he continued, "...and I've apologized. Now your job is to forgive me so we can get on with life. Your V's girl, and in my world that means a hell of a lot. You're family, and that's all that's important." He paused a moment, then grinned at her, "So how 'bout we go get food."

Sonya stared at him, something in her had warmed when he'd said she was family and faced with his grin she had the strongest urge to... grin back.

Was that normal? After she'd just insulted the guy and had truly, twenty seconds ago, thought him an absolute jackass?

Is this what he did to everyone?

"I'm not very hungry anymore..."

"Then come sit at the table and watch us. Come on." he motioned for her to walk in front of him.

"I still don't think I like you." she said softly, but with much less conviction.

He grinned again, "That's alright, I'm still not sure I like Brian and he's been around for awhile now."

She smiled slightly, meeting his eyes, so he isn't a complete jackass.

"There you are, girl, I was about to head to the garage." Vince said rounding the corner.

"I was sitting on the steps,"

"Everythin koo out here?" he asked looking first at her then at Dom.

She nodded, slowly, "Yeah I think it is. I think everything is cool."

"Good." he said relieved, god life would've been stressful in Sonya decided she didn't like Dom, "Koo, can we eat now, cause I'm starvin." he continued wrapping his arm around her waist.

"When ain't you." Dom answered, hitting him playfully on the head. Vince laughed, a laugh tainted with relief.

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