Disclaimer: Not Mine

Author's Note:

I have good news and bad news.

It's actually the same news: it's just good for you and bad for me.

This story is writing itself.

ALL THE TIME

I can't get it written down fast enough.

Which means I'm at work staring at the empty wall cause I have conversations going on in my head.

Anyway, here's next chapter -- I predict four more. Start the countdown!!

TrueMarine88:

Dom will meet Angelo in the next chapter. Hold your horses. =)

Pips24:

I couldn't have put it better myself!

Greenglowchaissis:

Hey girl, don't pass judgment on Angelo yet. I haven't really decided if I want you to hate him. I'm thinking he may have some redeemable qualities... shrugs We'll see.

Lou:

Sounds like you've had experience with plotting pregnant woman. =)

Phoenix224:

Don't worry. Dom will know it all... someday.

Three Sister:

Wow! Your compliments are just so amazing. Thank you so, so much. You're such an encouragement to me. I've put a lot of thought into what I want to do with the Angelo character. His role is pivotal, and since everyone wants to dislike him.... I think I might make it really, really hard to hate him. ;)

La Mamasita Loca:

Thanks girl, I'm glad I made you cry -- that means it's good, right? Of course I'm a Dom/Letty fan. They'll get it right eventually, promise.

DomLetty4eva:

Dom's ex is probably not gonna make a personal appearance. But who knows... it could happen.

Ranger Webb, LettyRodriguez01, Tp96, and LettyDomLuva:

Thank you so much for reviewing.

Hope you enjoy. REVIEW PLEASE!

==========================================================

The barbecue went off without a hitch. No gaping at friend's girlfriends', no arguments, no little kids plunging to their deaths -- it was simply good food and laughter.

Letty showed up close to seven, they'd already started eating. The girls descended upon her and didn't leave her side until their bed time, an hour and a half later.

"Do we have to..." they whined, their eyes on their aunt.

Without so much as a smile Letty answered, "If you ever want to go anywhere again, I'd say yes."

The girls were silent a moment, as if checking to see if she was serious. When she didn't smile, they got their butts into gear.

They kissed everybody and headed inside, Taylor on their heels. For that last two nights he'd slept on a sleeping bag on the floor in between their beds.

He loved it, said it was like a party. Which made all the adults wonder what they did when the doors were closed.

No one really minded though, as long as the girls got up for school.

Quietly everyone moved into the living room, not wanting to be outside in case one of the kids needed something.

Vince had left to go to the club, Sonya had stayed behind. Brian was regaling her with the story of how he'd met the Dom and the Team.

"So I'm lookin up right, and Dom is standin there all godfather-like and he says, real deep, this is one of those times where you have to be very careful of what you say. And I'm thinkin oh shit, oh shit, this guys squash my head with his shoe ---"

He was making sound effects and hand motions as he spoke. Everyone was laughing so hard, they were falling over each other.

The phone rang and Mia, who'd been draped over Dom, took in two huge breaths and squeaked out, "hello."

Her brow furrowed for a moment and she made shushing motions with her hands, "I'm sorry, what was that?"

Her eyes widened, in that universal way of apprehension and shock, that always manages to kill a party, "Oh, sure, hold on."

Taking the phone from her ear she looked over at Dom with wide eyes, "It's your wife," she said softly.

The entire room stilled; all eyes turning to him.

"Oh," he said simply, trying to figure out whether he should pretend everything was okay or just take the phone directly to his room.

He settled for a little of both.

Reaching for it, he said softly, "Hello,"

"Heard you been lookin for me."

He stood, ignoring everyone's looks, "You heard right."

He remained silent until he was half way up the kitchen stairs, "What the fuck is going on Kara," he growled at her. All pretense of calm gone as entered his room.

He sat on the bed, waiting for her answer.

She was silent for a second then sighed, "I'm assuming you have the divorce papers."

"We're not getting divorced Kara. If you want some time alone, fine - take it. But we're not getting divorced."

This time the silence stretched for a while; he waited, drawing on all his resources of patience.

"Why do you have to make this so hard, Dominic?" she said, as if he were the bad guy.

"I'm not making anything hard. Take as much time as you need, but we're not getting divorced," he paused than added, "I refuse to."

"You refuse to?" she nearly screeched at him, "Dominic, I can get a divorce with or without your consent. It'll just take longer," her voice was tight.

He knew she was aggravated, possibly on the verge of tears, "We don't need a divorce Kara. You want time, that's fine. I'm going to be here for at least another three weeks, that's plenty of time."

"No Dominic, it's not plenty of time. We... you and me, we're..." her voice caught here, but she continued, "We're over, Dominic, we're over. We have nothing left..."

"Nothing left?" he cut her off, disbelief coloring his voice, "Kara we have everything left. We have a second chance here, a chance to start over, don't throw that away, please don't throw it away,"

He knew his voice was tinged with despair, but he didn't care.

He knew he'd said these words already, but he didn't care, either. He just wanted her to hear him.

Her voice was small now; If he closed his eyes he could see her... see her clutching the phone, see her biting her lip...

"We do have second chances, but we'll take them with other people, Dominic. Please be honest with yourself -- from the moment we said 'I do' there's been nothing good."

"Nothing Good!?!" he roared at her, his patience wearing thin. "What about our SON, Kara!!! huh? What about him?"

She was silent a moment, then whispered, "He was good for you Dominic, not for me. Taylor made you grow up, he made me realize I never had."

Now it was his turn to be silent. He couldn't argue with that truth.

"He can be good for you too, baby. You're ready now," he cooed at her.

"Oh god Dominic, please don't do this to me. Don't make me stay with you," she whimpered, suddenly, "You can do it, you have that power over me. You can talk me into this, into believing that we can do it. That I can be a good mom and we can be in love forever. You can talk me into this vision of raising our son and giving him siblings, of having grandchildren and growing old together... but Dominic I don't want it. I'll be settling; and I don't want to. I want to try for my dreams again, I want... I want a chance to find the girl you met. The one who's been gone for so long..."

She was sobbing into the phone now and all he could was stare straight ahead into his wall. His grip on the phone so hard his knuckles were white.

"Kara..." he began, "I love you," he said gently, but she cut him off.

Taking a deep breath, she said somewhat firmly, "I know, and... I love you... but Dominic..." she cut herself off, a ragged sigh escaping her body, "Why do you have to make this so hard!? This is for the best, Dominic, it really is trust me -- "

This time it was he that cut her off, his voice full of suppressed raged, "How can you know that? How can you see that this is for the best when all I see is us throwing away something precious, something that has the potential to be wonderful. What makes you so special that you can see what I can't? Huh?"

"I don't know, I... I just... I feel it Dominic. I know it hurts, but it'll get better. I know it will... it has to get better, it has to..." she stopped for a second, drawing in breaths, trying to keep the sobs at bay, "It has to... if we do this, I just... I know things will turn out well... I just do; and... and I need to you to believe me, to trust me."

He shook his head even though she couldn't see him, taking a moment to steady himself he responded calmly, "I do trust you Kara. But you're wrong about this. A divorce isn't the answer."

His voice was meant to soothe and when she didn't respond right away, he knew she was composing herself. When she did, her voice was steady - calm... almost still.

"I saved you Dominic, that's what you said." she whispered, and he felt his skin crawl, "You were always saying that, remember? That I'd come out of know where to save you," she paused, "Is it true? Did I?"

She waited.

He didn't answer.

"Answer me. Did I?" She commanded softly.

He took a breath, closing his eyes, thinking back to those days, "You did, Kara," he confirmed, "...if I hadn't met you... It's pretty safe to say I would have ended up dead or in prison."

She was silent then continued, "You said I mended your heart with my smile."

"You did,"

"You said I healed your soul my laughter."

"You did," he repeated.

Somewhere in the back of his mind something told him to put a stop to this line of questioning, that nothing good could come out of it. But the voice was dim and he was in no mood to listen.

"You said I that I made you want to live again."

He whispered it this time, "You did."

She was silent now and he knew, as if he was standing in front of her that she was crying, that she was holding back sobs -- could see her sitting stiffly, clutching the phone, folding a golden strand behind her ear with a shaking hand.

"Dominic, I'm asking you to save me. I'm asking you to give me what I gave you -- the will to live again."

The reference to those times when he'd held her as she'd sobbed, left him reeling. During those sobs, she'd uttered often that she wanted to die. She'd never actually attempted to kill herself, but the thought had always been lurking about in their home; an evil shadow that made him jump when ever he heard the phone in his office at the garage ring.

The divorce would save her. That's what she was saying, that to rid herself of him would save her.

"Was I really that horrible to you?" he asked, unable to keep the hurt from his voice.

She gasped, the calm fading, "Oh god, no Dominic, that's not what I meant. It's me. I'm the problem, I'm the one who can't handle it. You deserve a... a better wife. A wife who's gonna give as good she gets. One that's crazy but... stable crazy, you know. Someone who isn't going to cower when you glare at them, who yells back when you yell. That's not me." She paused, then said with humor in her voice, "Someone who'll pelt you in the head when you act like an ass."

"Kara...."

"Dominic," she interrupted, "Since we've been married, you've never so much as cursed at me. Not when I lied to you, not one of the many times when I came home buzzed, hell not even when I let your son break his arm. And I... I know why -- " he heard her take a shaking breath, "... because your afraid I'll break."

He glowered as he spoke, his tone harsh, angry, "So let me get this straight, you want to divorce me because I never cursed at you while we were married. Fine then: fuck you Kara, I'm not getting divorced."

She paused, "We haven't been ourselves around each other since I told you I was pregnant."

"That's not true..."

"Yes it is." She said firmly, enunciating each word.

Was it?

He was silent as he saw their life together.

She'd been so fragile during the pregnancy. He hadn't wanted to hurt her -- in any way. Physically, emotionally, spiritually... he'd been so careful with her. Then after, she'd been, as she insinuated, unstable.

She'd been -- angry, resentful; wouldn't accept any of the gentleness he offered her.

...she hadn't smiled like herself....

...he hadn't talked like himself....

...she hadn't told jokes like herself...

...he hadn't drunk like himself...

The realization was staggering - they hadn't been themselves...

"Dominic?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah?" he said numbly. All anger gone, all everything gone.

All he could feel was the beginning's of that feeling that had overtaken him the day she'd left for Quebec.

That feeling of cold.

"Will you save me, Dominic?"

She was asking if he'd sign those papers. Asking if he'd let her go. If he'd let her have her second chance - alone.

He wanted to say no. But he wouldn't... couldn't.

Slowly a word worked it's way out of him from deep inside, emerging into the world as a ragged sob, and he swore he could hear his heart break as it traveled over the phone lines.

The word was, "Yes."

And with that one word he ended everything he'd fought so hard to preserve.

"Promise," she whispered, the sobs finally bursting free again.

"Yes," he repeated in the same tone. The coldness, the apathy, unfolding itself.

They stayed on the line for a long time. Neither one talking, neither one wanting to be the first to say goodbye.

He could hear her - crying.

If he closed his eyes, he could see her - holding her face in her hands - weeping.

It might have been five minutes, it might have been five hours, but suddenly he heard a tiny, hoarse voice, "Dominic?" it said

She never calls me Dom, he thought absentmindedly.

"Yeah," he said, trying to summon some conviction to his voice. Unfortunately, his voice came out sounding as empty as he felt.

"I have to go now ...bye."

He nodded, but didn't bother saying anything; just stuck his finger in the off button and laid back on his bed.

It was a long time before a thought actually materialized in his brain, when it did, it was quite simple really. I want to get drunk.

He hadn't gotten drunk in so long, a couple beers here and there; but not often. He'd never wanted Kara to smell liquor on his breath, he'd never wanted Taylor to see him drunk.

But Kara wasn't around... would probably never be around again; and Taylor was asleep.

And the sudden need was overwhelming. Without further thought he headed for the back stairs.

In the kitchen he opened the refrigerator, grabbed the opened pack of beer and rummaged in the back for the unopened one. Grabbing them both he stood to go back to his room.

He could still here voices in the living room, glancing at the clock he started a little -- it was barely ten.

It had taken less than an hour to finish off his marriage.

Interesting, he thought rather bitterly.

Once up in his room he put the beers down on the floor almost gently. Turning off any and all thoughts he pulled the manila folder out from his closet.

He didn't read the papers, didn't so much as glance them over. He just scrawled his signature wherever there was a red arrow. Then he carefully entered the papers back into the folder and placed it on the pillow next to his.

In the morning he'd take it to the post office.

In the morning he'd finish things.

Tonight he'd drink.

Nodding to himself, he proceeded to sit at the end of the bed and down one beer after the other. He paused only long enough to set the empty one down and open up another one.

He didn't let his mind entertain any thoughts.

Thoughts were bad.

No, he just sat there, drinking his beer. Wondering how the hell he'd been living without the taste of it.

We haven't been ourselves....

Her words kept trying to intrude on his time. This was his time, his time to get re-acquainted with the beer he'd spent much too little time with in the last five years.

Beer, he thought as he held it out in front of him, remember me...

As an answer he put it to his lips and drank.

...and drank...

... and drank....

===========================================================

"Don't leave..." Mia whined, latching on to Letty's hand.

Letty sighed pulling away, "Mia I can't wait till Brian gets..."

"But he trusts you to keep me company while he's gone."

"He shouldn't have gone," Letty stated firmly. Brian had gone with Leon and Sonya to the club, for a minute.

"He'll be back soon. Don't go, I don't want to be alone down here."

Letty sighed again, "I have to go. It's not like last week..." she said softly.

Mia rolled her eyes, "Oh, that's right," she said, sarcasm coloring her voice, "The warden's back in town."

Letty narrowed her eyes, "STOP CALLING HIM THAT," she hissed.

Mia smiled sweetly, "Can't. It's his official nickname. We all agreed."

"I'm leaving," Letty said, firmly, "I'll see ya around."

Mia sighed dramatically, "Sure, go home to your warden; leave me here: the overblown, swollen, nearly nine-months-pregnant woman, who can't go up the stairs and can barely get up from this sofa without help, alone. After all who cares about a best friend when you've got a domineering, slick haired, control freak of a lover waiting at home for you. What does it matter that we've known each other for ever and that I could go into labor at any moment --"

"Uggggghhhhh" Letty growled, throwing herself on the sofa, "Fine, since your guilting me into staying here you call Angelo and tell him."

Mia smiled, effectively proving herself a liar as she got up rather swiftly to get the phone, "I'd be happy to have a chat with the warden. In fact I've got a bone to pick with him - what's with all that yellow rock shit he's making you wear?"

Letty arched an eyebrow, "Excuse me?" she said as hauntingly as she could, while lying upside down on the sofa, "Those are Amber Chrystaliaums and they in right now."

She met Mia's look before bursting out into the laughter, "The things are imported from the four corners of the world I think, expensive like you wouldn't believe. And you know he has panic attacks if I'm not wearing the hottest, most expensive shit around."

"You wore it when he was in Tokyo." Mia pointed out.

Letty nodded, "Yeah, cause just cause he's in Tokyo. Doesn't mean he's in Tokyo, if you know what I mean."

Now it was Mia turn to arch her brows, "He's still keeping tabs on you?"

Letty shrugged, "Only when he's away."

Mia rolled her eyes, and went to get the phone, "How you put up with that shit is beyond me?" she said.

Letty smirked.

Mia sat with the phone but made no move to make the call.

"He-llllll-ooooo" Letty said in a sing-song voice, "Clocks ticking, call'm would ya... The later it is the more pissed he'll be."

Mia nodded, "Do me a favor?"

"Yeah," she said nonchalantly.

"Go check on Dom."

Letty swung herself upright and stared the woman she loved like a sister, "Have you finally gone off the deep end?" she asked softly.

"Letty," Mia began, she was cut off.

"Mia, I would rather face an army of would-be models, designers, angry-Angelo's then go check on Dom."

Mia smiled, Letty had just named the three things she hated most in her new life.

"I'm sure you would," she said, "But I'm worried about him. He hasn't come down since that call."

"Not our problem. He'll come down when he wants."

"I just want to make sure he's okay."

"He's probably asleep."

"Just poke your head in there to see. If he is, I'll be satisfied. If he's awake, ask him if he's okay."

Letty's eyes widened, "I'm not asking that! What if he answer's me!!!"

Mia sighed, "Fine, don't ask. Just tell him to come down here and I'll ask him."

"No."

"I'd go up myself but I don't want to do stairs."

"No, Mia. Didn't we agree that I shouldn't be alone with Dom."

"No we agreed that what happened last week was a flook." Letty didn't look convinced, "Besides," Mia continued, "You'd only be alone for a like a second."

"No."

"Please, Letty," she pouted, "I'm worried. His wife sounded so... I don't know, odd. Please."

"No, Mia."

"I'll owe you."

Letty eyed her, "Owe me what?" she asked.

"Anything you want."

Letty was thoughtful for a moment, then smiled, "How about that German chocolate cake with the fudge."

Mia glared at her, "That takes more than three hours to make!"

Letty shrugged casually, "He's probably asleep anyway."

Mia was stewed for a moment, "You aren't supposed to eat that shit, what if a model gets sick and you have to go on... you won't fit in the dress."

"Take it or leave it Mia." Letty said slyly.

Mia eyes narrowed, "FINE" she gritted out.

Letty nodded, "Good. I'll be right back." she said happily, visions of gooey chocolate filling her head.

When she was out of sight, Mia let the smile she'd been holding back bloom.

Oh my dear, sweet, naive little Letty, she thought gleefully, how sweet of you to think you've won.

Mia had just given the first, of many, very small nudges.

She realized that in essence she was planning the destruction of a marriage, but in her mind it was a marriage that shouldn't have been in the first place.

She'd been rather quiet all night. Mostly because her conversation with Dom kept running in her mind.

It sounded as if... as if he felt like he had to love his wife. He had to because she'd given him a child.

It sounded like he'd convinced himself into believing he was in love with this woman.

Well, Mia thought, I'll more than happy to show him the error of his ways.

And Letty, well Letty was just one big bundle of denial.

Her thing with Angelo was deep. Mia knew that.

They had something, she wouldn't deny it.

But it wasn't the something that Letty thought it was.

Hell, she thought as she punched Letty's apartment number into the phone, they're both doing the same thing -- brainwashing themselves.

===========================================================

Maybe this isn't such a good idea... Letty thought as she stood at the foot of the hallway.

No duh, Sherlock

Oh god, not again, she practically moaned, he really was driving her insane.

Giving herself a mental shake, she took a few steps forward - slowly.

She took a breath, just look in and tell him Mia wants to see him.

That's it.

Four seconds tops.

The door was slightly ajar. She peeked in... carefully, slowly.

The first thing she noticed were the beer bottles... scattered all over the floor -- empty.

Nine of them, she counted as she opened the door completely, standing in the doorway; and the tenth one was in his hands.

"Dom?" she asked curtly, "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he growled without looking at her.

It was such a typical Dom answer that she couldn't help it... she gave a Letty response, "Just for shits and giggles humor me."

He smirked, "Trying to get drunk."

Letty grimaced, "Dom you got three kids across the hall and a pregnant woman downstairs - that is not a good idea."

He shrugged, "Don't worry - it's not working. Apparently, I've still got a high tolerance for this shit."

Letty nodded, wonderful she'd had a conversation.

Time to cut this off.

"Great, Mia wants to talk to you."

She turned.

"Can't," he said simply.

"Yeah, Dom you can. She's downstairs waiting," Letty said turning back around, against her better judgment.

"I can't deal with Mia right now," he said softly.

Very softly... it sent shivers through Letty. He sounded... tired, weary... defeated.

And he looked it too. His shoulders were hunched and he was staring straight ahead as if the secrets of life were plastered on the wall.

"Are you okay?"

The words came out of their own accord. Letty's mind didn't tell them to go. In fact Letty's mind was telling her to get out of the room, but Letty's feet weren't listening. The feet, like the words, were doing there own thing and taking her further into the room.

He shook his head, "No actually I don't think I am," he said faintly, after which he finished the last beer.

He looked at the floor and then up at her with a lost expression on his face, "I have no more," he sounded so sad.

Making Letty suspect his tolerance wasn't as high as he thought.

She couldn't help it, she pouted, "awwww poor baby" she cooed.

He nodded his agreement, "I need more beer. I gotta get drunk. Would'a help me get drunk Letty?" he asked hopefully.

She grinned, "Sure," then added teasingly, "Let's head out right now..."

He nodded, standing up -- and promptly staggering back, "Whoa," he said holding his hand out, "Who moved the room?"

DON'T TOUCH HIM.

For once the little voice had a good suggestion.

"Sit back down, Dom, you're drunk," she said calmly, from a safe distance away.

He scowled in her direction, taking a few halting steps forward, "I am not. I don't get drunk off a pack and half of beer."

Letty smirked, "When was the last time you had a pack and a half of beer?"

He stopped, looked down and furrowed his brow, "By myself?" he asked solemnly.

She nodded, the smile still stamped on her face.

He contemplated a while longer the shrugged, "Can't remember..." and continued his trajectory.

Unfortunately, his eye-foot coordination was a little off and he staggered all over the empty bottles.

It was instinct. Later she would tell herself that there was too much instinct where Dom was involved.

But for now, instinct drove her to reach out and catch his arm.

He stumbled, loosing his footing and falling forward; pulling her with him and landing on top of her.

They hit the ground hard; Letty was sure they'd woken the kids, sure Mia had heard, sure she'd broken something.

In actuality she was wrong on all counts.

She had the breath knocked out of her -- litterally.

At for a moment time held still, as she met his startled gaze, she thought he'd kiss her again. After all they were alone in his bedroom; he was drunk; he was lying on top of her -- all signs pointed to another kiss.

But he didn't.

Instead he brought his head down and laid in on her shoulder, pressing his face into neck!

To shocked to move, the only thing that raced through her head was: that better be one hell of a cake.

Giving herself a mental shake, she shoved at Dom's chest, "Cripes Dom!! Get the hell off me!!!"

His head lifted, he looked shocked, "Why?" he asked -- really asked!! As if he didn't know.

Disbelief marred her face, "What ya mean Why?!! Your blocking the circulation to my legs, that's why!!"

Okay so that was the least of the why's. But what was she supposed to say? That she was feeling heat in places she shouldn't be feeling....

"Oh sorry," he said guiltily, and sat up. He blinked furiously a few times, "Is that wall wobbling? Brian should really get the foundation on this place checked. It's an old house..."

She sighed loudly as she stood up, kicking bottles away, "The walls' only wobbling in your head, Dom. Get up and go to bed," her words were harsher than she meant for them to be.

But her heart was pounding so fast she thought in might just beat away, her palms were sweating and she'd bet her career that her eyes were dilated.

He didn't move.

She looked down at the top of his head, "Dom," she hissed impatiently.

He didn't look at her, "I'm not up?" he asked ingenuously.

She rolled her eyes. She could just leave, of course Mia would ask what he was doing...

...she could lie and say he was asleep...

Problem was... at some point Mia would come upstairs and find him; and discovering him like this -- sitting on the floor amid empty beer bottles -- might result in no gooey, chocolate cake.

Okay, okay, I can do this, she thought nodding to herself, just put him in the bed.

He'd probably fall right asleep.

"No, Dom you're not up, you're drunk. But you gotta get up..." she reached down and pulled on his arm, "... come on..." she said pulling, "... you gotta help me Dom..." she gritted out.

He did - kind of.

After a lot of pulling and prodding, she managed to put his arm over her shoulders and they staggered over to the bed.

She dropped his on it.

"It's wierd..." he said as she put first one then the other of his feet on the bed.

"What is?" she said a little breathlessly, from the effort. She pulled his shoes off.

"I don't feel all that drunk...." he said, his words slurring a little, his tone mellow, "...just tired... maybe a little sleepy..."

She stared at his pants...

...uh-uh, no, don't go there...

True, very true.

"I'm going to turn the light off now, Dom, go to sleep okay."

She flicked the lamp off, leaving the room dim; illuminated only by the hallway light filtering in through the open door.

He nodded but he wasn't laying back.

"Lay down Dom." Letty said firmly, like she did to the girls.

She pushed on his chest a little and he put his head on the pillow. She frowned a little, "What is that?" she said seeing a shadow on the other pillow.

"Don't touch that."

Nothing mellow about those words -- they were sharp.

And she retracted her hand immediately, calling herself every kind of idiot.

She deserved to get her hand chopped off, what the hell did she care what that was!!

She didn't care.

Sure just keep telling yourself that.

Deep breath, "Goo--" she began but never finished.

He grabbed her hand suddenly, pulling her until she landed with a small thump on the side of his bed.

Frowning, "Let go, Dom. Mia's downstairs alone." she said tugging on her hand.

He let go easily enough but his words stopped her, "Things slip away so easily don't they Let?"

A lump formed in her throat, oh god not again....

"So easy..." he said softly, his eyes closing; and to her horror he pressed his face into her outer thigh -- snuggled -- actually. Between her and the mattress.

"I wanted things to be better," he continued, "I was gonna try...but she doesn't... she doesn't want to. She doesn't want me," he said wearily. Agony evident in the mellow words.

Her breath caught.

Her heart froze.

He wasn't talking about her...

"How come, Let? Why doesn't she want me?" The words were slurred but full of torment, like a little boy asking why mommy would rather be in heaven with the angels than here with him.

His anguish so intense, she could feel it.

Letty couldn't swallow let alone answer, but that was okay because he'd fallen asleep.

Just like that.

His breathing evened out and his words stopped.

Leaving her with an ache so deep she didn't know where it came from or why. Only that quite suddenly she wanted to wrap him in her arms and just hold him.

She swallowed hard as she stood slowly, not wanting to disturb him. He moaned anyway, moving closer towards the edge of the bed -- following her.

She bent down and slid her hands underneath him, shifting him away from the edge.

He always looked so... approachable in sleep. Like he wouldn't bite your head off.

She used to sit up in bed sometimes, to watch him.

No, she wasn't going to think, she wasn't going to analyze the feelings of... warmth, of tenderness that were filling her.

She was just going to feel them and then shove them away.

Feel them and shove them away... good plan. That would work.

Feel; shove away...

Her hand had somehow traveled up his arms, past his chest and neck and to his cheek.

She caressed it softly and keeping to her plan bent down and pressed a kiss where his lashes met his cheek -- because that's what she felt.

His eyes fluttered open, but looking into them she knew he wasn't awake.

Hovering above him, she whispered tenderly, "I can't imagine why she wouldn't want you, Dom."

His eyes closed again and she smiled softly... sadly.

...can't imagine why...

Straightening, she left the room; closing the door softly behind her and leaning back against it, her eyes sliding shut.

Don't think...

...don't analyze...

...just put them away.

She nodded to herself, repeating the phrase over and over again.

Praying that somehow it would work.

Knowing deep inside, that they wouldn't stay put away forever.

=========================================================

She took the steps slowly and found Mia and Brian sitting on the couch, looking very comfortable and as if they'd been there for awhile.

"Well?" Mia asked smiling.

"He's asleep," she answered truthfully, "And you owe me one hell of a cake."

Mia grinned and shushed Brian when he began to speak, "I'll tell you later," she said to him then to Letty, "Come over on Sunday."

Letty looked at her a moment, "If I come over on weekends, Angelo comes with me. I don't want you to be rude to him Mia."

"I have never been rude to Angelo."

Letty arched an eyebrow.

"Sarcastic, condescending, facetious, yes. Rude, never."

Brian laughed.

Letty shrugged, heading for the door, "Whatever you call it, don't do it on Sunday." She said steadily, accepting the invitation.

Mia nodded, looking a lot like the girls, "I'll try my hardest."

Letty couldn't help smiling, "I'll see ya. Oh, Brian?" she suddenly, poking her head back in before the door closed.

"Yeah?"

"You're outa beer."

===========================================================