Disclaimer: Not Mine.

Author's Note: Okay, so Dom finally meets Angelo in this chapter... I used it as an opportunity to illustrate Dom's new self-control... which means there are no 4th-of-July type fireworks, just a few sparks...

I know, I know we all like the hot-head, don't worry he'll show up...

As for Angelo, I've changed my mind again, he is going to be hate-able... just not completely so. He has one redeeming quality. Can anyone guess what it is?

There are hints to it in this chapter but it will be more clearly displayed later on.

Anyway thanks for the reviews.

La Mamasita Loca:

Okay by me if they end up together... =)

Tp96:

I'm glad you like it.

TrueMarine88:

The story's writing itself, it's just life that gets in the way. I'm writing and posting as quickly as I can. Feed your horses a carrot or somethin, ;)

Pips24:

There's an Angelo description in here and you've got my other two characters right on the money.

Three Sisters:

Yeah, at first I wanted people to hate Angelo -- I mean he's not Dom, right? But then I reconsidered it and now I've decided for a middle ground kind of thing. He's not all bad, he's just... not Dom. Tell your sister thanks for me, compliments from people who don't even like TFTF are especially special; and thank you so much for your reviews, I always look forward to seeing what you think. =)

Range Webb:

Yeah, he really does love Kara.

Mad melma:

Thank you for taking the time to review.

LettyDomLuva:

Thanks, that lil drunk scene was meant to make people smile alittle, at least in the beginning.

The Phoenix 1224:

Yep, just like Taylor -- you caught that huh? Good job. =)

Thank you all so much and Enjoy....

Oh, and P.S.

PLEASE REVIEW!

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

"Why don't you just pick the cake up?"

It was about one in the afternoon on Sunday. Letty had mentioned about twenty-seven times since breakfast at nine that she was going over to Mia's.

As usual, though, Angelo had insisted that she tag along with him, while he met client's and kissed their asses, in a social kind of way. It was business mingling, he said, and she nodded glumly, going along with it... with him.

Now when she had finally managed to get him to drive in the right direction he asked a question like that....

Her patience was running thin.

She rolled her eyes, as she turned to look out the passenger window, the light glinting in her amber earrings, "Because," she said a little snidely, "I doubt Mia has even started making the cake and anyway even if it was ready. I want to spend the day here. I told you that."

Angela kept his eyes on the road, his tone distant, "Didn't you spend the day here on Friday?"

"No, I spent the evening here on Friday. It is not the same thing," she replied her voice tight. He remained silent and she sighed, "You didn't have to come if you didn't want to Angelo."

"I wouldn't let you come alone on a weekend. I just have other things I would have liked to do is all."

Letty wanted to growl at him.

To tell him it was fuckin alright for her to do stuff on the weekends without him on her freakin tail.

Instead, she said, as meekly as she could, "It would be alright for you to drop me off, you know. I'd make excuses for you. No one would care."

"I would care." He said firmly pulling into the driveway, "I like spending the weekends with you."

Letty nodded, it was one of his friggin rules. He was only thirty-four but when it came to how he did things he might as well have been fifty. His ideas of how things should be done were set in stone... and probably came from the stone age.

"I know," she said, "...but you have to understand I like spending the weekends here," she paused then added softly, "I plan on spending a lot of time here in the next few weeks."

He took her face in both his hands and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips. He was always so gentle with her.

"You need to tell them soon, love. It's for the best, they'll understand that."

She nodded, not meeting his eyes. Then pulled away, breaking free of his hold and opening the car door.

Like hell they'd understand, she thought grimly, stalking up to the front door.

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

"Sit down, Mia, I'll take it from here," Letty said smiling as she pushed the plump woman into a kitchen chair.

"I'm supposed to be making it," Mia insisted but she still sat down.

"You did, I'm just sticking it in the oven and cleaning up. Besides, you look tired," Letty answered simply.

Mia shrugged, "I guess I am."

Letty and Angelo had arrived an hour ago and since then she and Letty had been in the kitchen baking and discussing what they were going to do all day.

Anglo was outside with Brian.

"Long night?" Letty asked, a little concerned. When she'd arrived Mia had been alone with Brian. He'd been pulling out ingredients and bowls for her while she sat at the kitchen table.

Dom had taken the kids to the garage, he was going to work a little. Today was Sunday and Mia was insisting on a proper, sit-in-the-dining-room dinner.

So everyone was expected to be here no later 6:30 pm and to be clean.... as in shoes, hair, shirt, pants... everything. Mia had specified.

She sighed, rubbing her belly, "He's moving around all the time now and kicking too. I think he's cramped and it's making him cranky."

Letty smiled, going over to sit across from her so she could reach out and touch the belly too, "You're still sure it's boy?"

Mia shrugged smiling wryly, "Not really. I think Brian's right and it's a girl but I can't let him know that, can I?"

"Of course not!"

They smiled conspiringly at each other together. Early in the formation of team, they'd agreed that guys had large enough egos without being proven right. So they would always try hard to prove them wrong, even if they were right.

The idea had stuck and remembering it now, had them both grinning; all of a sudden Letty got serious, though. In the blink of an eye she wasn't laughing anymore, her eyes stopped sparkling.

"What is it?" Mia asked quickly, looking behind her. There was nothing there.

Letty shook her head, a small smile on her lips, but Mia swore she saw a glimmer of tears before the other woman stood to finish the dishes, "It's nothing, when are the girls getting back?" She asked quickly, dismissively.

Mia eyed her back for a moment, there was something in the way Letty was standing that told her to let it go.

"Don't know," she answered softly, considering her options. She could pursue it and possibly have an argument or she could just wait till Letty wanted to talk about it.

She settled on the latter and continued, "Dom's taking them to get ice cream after he finishes up at the garage. He was an ass all day yesterday, and I think he's trying to make it up to them and Taylor."

"An ass?" Letty questioned, anything to keep the woman from questioning her about what had just happened. She remained motionless, her back still facing Mia.

"Yeah, it was bad. He was in one of those moods, you know the ones..."

"Where he wants to bash a guys face in for looking at him for more than a second."

Mia nodded, "Yeah, except he didn't actually do anything he just... he was biting heads off right and left. Got up early went out, when he came back I asked him if he'd bought the entire liquor store. He didn't answer me, he put the bags down, went upstairs and came back down, grabbed the bags and went out the door,"

"Where'd he go?"

"The garage. He stayed there all day. The kids went out to talk to him. They came back looking like their dog had just been run over."

Letty turned to face Mia at this, "He didn't do anything to them did he?"

"No, he just said and I quote, as Jessa said, I want you three to turn around and go home right now. You don't want to be around me today," Mia smirked, "I wish he'd given us those warnings back then. Anyway, Taylor told us that sometimes his dad likes to be alone."

"And just like that the girls left him alone. I mean Taylor sure, he's used to it, but the girls..."

Mia smiled, "The girls have been really good lately Letty"

Letty smiled, "I can't believe how well they took the no ballet this weekend."

Mia nodded, "Taylor being around helps. They're really getting attached to him."

"He's a good influence,"

Mia shook her head ruefully, "It's like we're in the twilight zone... Dom raised a better behaved child than I did."

Letty laughed, drying her hands, "Well, Dom didn't have all of us to sabotage his efforts."

"Yeah, that's true," Mia paused, waiting for Letty to sit again, then asked, "You wouldn't happen to know why he drank all the beer in the house on Friday, would you?"

The image of a large manila envelope, sitting coolly on an untouched pillow in the dim room, flashed in her mind.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what was in that envelope.

A week calling his wife with no luck.

She finally calls.

Takes the call to his bedroom.

Drinks all the beer in the house.

...why doesn't she want me...

"Earth to Letty..." Mia was snapping her fingers in Letty's face.

Letty started a little, "I'm sorry my mind wandered..." she considered sharing her knowledge with Mia but decided against it, he'd tell his sister when he was ready, it wasn't her place, "...uh... no I don't..."

Mia nodded, but her eyes were skeptical, "He was asleep when you got up there?" she asked.

"Uh... practically...."

"Practically but not completely," Mia replied.

"Well, he was... almost... he was almost asleep..."

"You're sure?" Mia asked suspiciously.

"Mommy we're home!!" The cry resounded throughout the house and Letty almost sighed with relief.

Almost.

She couldn't because Mia was watching her with those narrowed Mia eyes that saw everything.

"Auntie Let!!!" the girls screamed in surprise. Bypassing their mother and rushing into her now waiting arms.

Letty laughed at the onslaught of hugs and kisses. Her face pressed against loose strands of ebony and blonde hair. At one point in time the girls had had pony-tails, now they were just loose strands flying all over the place with a colorful hair-tie lost somewhere in the jungle.

They had matching shorts with little flowers on them; Jessa with a green shirt, Dolly with a blue one.

"We didn't know..."

"...you were coming..."

"...today..."

"I'm going to help your mommy with tonight's special dinner," Letty said looking into their faces.

The girls nodded, excitedly.

"Hi Taylor," Letty said softly. The little boy was standing by Mia's knee, his little hand lost in hers.

He was wearing little baggy jeans and a white t-shirt, his head covered with very short dark fuzz....

And...he was looking at her and smiling; and she couldn't help it. He was so cute... and, after all he was just a little boy.

"Aren't you gonna give me a hug?" she asked.

He hesitated an instant before running into her arms.

"Hi, L-w-etty," he said softly.

Pulling away Letty smiled at the three kids, "So what did you guys do today?"

"Make me consider suicide."

She hadn't seen him come in, then again she'd been focused on the children.

He stood in the kitchen doorway, all raw male magnetism, in an open tan shirt with a wife-beater underneath and jeans, a smirk on his face and affection in his eyes as he looked at the three kids.

Taylor scowled at his father -- looking so much like him it was scary -- "Nu-uh daddy we were's good."

"Yeah," Jessa affirmed, "It was just that girls pushes my ice cream."

"Yeah," Dolly continued, "and I hafta protect my lil sister, cause I'm older by two minutes and seventeen seconds, so I hadta push her ice creams..."

"Yeah, and I's can't let her lil dog bite cousins. I'd da man of the en-tree-ige..."

"Wait, wait, was their a problem today Dom?" Mia asked warily as her brother entered the room and sat opposite her -- next to Letty.

"They were angels at the garage. I took them to get ice cream, turn around for one second to pay the lady and when I turn back this old broad has Dolly and Taylor by the arm, a little dog that looks like a squashed cupcake is whimperin, and this girl with pigtails is howlin at the top of her lungs. Not to mention theirs a lot of ice cream on the ground," he explained simply.

"Oh, no..."

"yeah, so it turns out they were all pushin each other and Taylor kicked the dog."

"It was gonna bite cousins and..."

"Yeah, yeah," Dom growled, smiling a little, "You're the man of the entourage."

He looked at Mia pointedly, "Did you tell him that?"

"No I did," Letty said smiling. She couldn't help it, she would have paid to see sweet, serious Taylor kick a dog.

Dom rolled his eyes, grinning, "I should have known, thanks a lot."

Letty smiled, "No problem," it seemed like he didn't remember the last time they'd seen each other.

Which was fine by her, the less he remember about her tucking him in, the better.

"Guys go upstairs and play a video game or something..." Mia told them, suddenly.

The stalled a few minutes before scattering. Only after they'd wheedled promises from Letty and Dom that they'd both be up later to play with them, though.

Mia snorted as she stood, "You two'd raise complete brats together..." the words were out before she could stop them.

Oh well....

She wanted to giggle, they both had identical startled expressions on their faces.

Well, no point in letting them ponder the words, smiling slightly, she said briskly, "Dom go out to the yard while Letty I finish up in here, please."

He nodded, told her to call if she needed anything and proceeded to leave.

She waited until he got up and was opening the door, "Oh, wait Letty, Angelo's out there. Why don't you go introduce Dom to your fiancée while I pull this out of the oven."

She wasn't facing them, so she couldn't see their faces. But she felt the pause in the air, though, as if they were both judging just how innocent the comment was.

When Letty spoke Mia knew that her best friend, at least, was not fooled.

"Mia, you're tired. I'll pull the cake out of the oven," she said and Mia felt Letty's hands on her shoulders -- the grip rather firm -- "You go outside with your brother," the voice was tight.

It took all of Mia's will power to shrug carelessly, as if it didn't mean a thing to her, and say simply, "Sure that sounds good."

She smiled kindly at Letty and received a suspicious glare in return. Dom was looking at her a little warily and she knew she had to back off a little.

Apparently, they might not be as dense as they seemed.

Outside, Angelo was standing - he didn't sit on their old, worn, and what he termed filthy patio furniture - in his two-suit as usual, completely immaculate; while Brian attempted to clean the yard up a little. The look on his face said that once again Angelo had been discussing the merits of investing ones monetary assets....

"Mia!" Brian exclaimed his voice relieved, he dropped the bag where he'd been picking up trash and ran over to her, taking her in his arms, he whispered for her ears alone, "One hour you left me alone with this."

Then out loud, "What have you been doing in there?"

"Baking," Mia answered pleasantly. Then looking to Angelo she added sweetly, "You're still here? I'd have thought you'd leave."

He met her gaze a moment, his look almost amused, before he answered, "As always I'll wait for Letty."

Mia nodded her eyes shining as she watched Angelo notice Dom.

Dom who hadn't taken his eyes off the man since they entered they yard.

"Angelo this is my brother, Dom, he's staying with us for awhile. Dom this is Angelo, Letty's fiancée."

She knew Dom had already heard that he was Letty's fiancée, but she wanted to rub it in. To make him grasp what that meant...

If there was one thing about her brother that she could count on: it was the fact that he was insanely possessive of people he felt were his.

And Letty would always be his.

Whether he liked it or not. It was hardwired in him. And Mia was gonna use that.... she had every intension of playing on that...

"I've heard a lot about you," Angelo said in his smooth voice, extending his hand.

As for Letty, Mia thought ruefully as she looked at the two men, no one could fault her taste in men.

They were as different as day and night, but they were both gorgeous,

Dom with his shaven head, rugged good looks, and intense dark eyes was the polar opposite of Angelo's dirty blonde spikes, refined features, and light green eyes.

Dom was tall, muscled, rough around the edges.

Angela was tall, slim, smooth.

Dom was wild, stallion roaming the open fields... admired and tempestuous.

Angelo was sleek, gelding trained to compete... admired and demanding.

Dom was jeans, boots, and beer...

Angelo was slacks, shoes, and wine...

"I've heard about you too," Dom said in his deep voice, taking the hand Angelo offered. They shook quickly and then just studied each other.

As far as she knew Angelo didn't know exactly who her brother had been to Letty, but he knew he'd been something.

"Brian would you help me inside for a second," she asked sweetly, walking towards the door.

Brian frowned, "Help with what? You just got out here. I thought you wanted me to clean the yard...." he said his voice a little petulant.

"I just need you to help me in the kitchen for a second..." she said again this time not so sweetly as she gave him a little push in the direction of the door.

"...Letty's in there, it's not like you've started cooking yet," he continued, not really budging, "I can't do the yard and help in the kitchen at the same..."

"It will only take a minute, Brian," Mia interrupted her voice tight with suppressed irritation. God, couldn't the guy take a hint....

"Fine," he said pouting a little.

She smiled to herself as they walked into the kitchen -- pregnancy was hard on Brian.

She often gave him four or five things to do all at the same time, and of course expected them to get done. She'd throw fits if the groceries weren't put away, the girls in bed, the dishes in their spots, the garbage taken out, and the dirty clothes in the laundry room, by the time she finished telling him to do it.

And of course, he did the best he could... she'd have to do something really, really special for him after the baby was born...

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

"So how long are you here for?" Angelo asked, as Mia and Brian entered the house. He knew the man in front of him was the cornerstone of this family.

That much he understood.

Why? Was another matter entirely, one he planned to figure out.

At the moment the more he understood this family the better. It would give him an understanding of Letty, one he would need over the next few weeks.

It would be hard for her, but it really was for the best; and he would be there for her. To help her, to care for her -- as always.

Dom shrugged, walking over to the table, "Jus till the baby's born," he said eyeing the man.

This was the guy Letty was gonna marry.

What the hell was she thinking?

She could eat a guy like this for breakfast. He looked like he spent more on hair gel than she did on clothes....

Used to, he reminded himself harshly, what she used to spend on clothes...

He didn't know how much she spent on clothing anymore...

It didn't matter, he thought, the point was she could steam roll over this guy and he wouldn't even know she was doing it. Letty needed someone with a firmer hand, someone....

What the fuck do you care what Letty needs!?! The little voice screeched at him.

Good point.

"That'll be nice for Mia," Mr. Gel was saying, walking over towards him.

"Take a seat," Dom said motioning towards the bench.

Angelo shook his head, "No, thank you."

Christ, he was polite too!

"How long've you been wit Letty?" The question was blunt and asked in a harsh voice... and popped out of his mouth before he actually heard it in his head.

Angelo stared at him a moment -- ice in his eyes -- maybe she wouldn't be able to steamroll over him, he thought suddenly, a little amused, at least not on the first try, anyway.

"I've been seeing Letty for several years," he answered coldly.

"How long is several years?" Dom asked, his voice dropping a few degree's too.

Angelo was silent.

Dom waited.

"She's been mine for the last five years," the words were frigid, the meaning clear.

This ass was issuing a warning...

"She's never been yours," Dom replied instantly, veiled fury in his tone.

Angelo arched his brows and had the nerve to smirk, "I'd wager she'd say different."

Dom stood, "I wouldn't" he growled, his eyes narrowed.

Angelo wiped the smirk off his face and almost took a step back. The man looked like a bear on the verge of attack.

Dom turned suddenly, and headed for the cooler, "Beer?" he asked roughly, not out of politeness but simply habit. He always offered a beer to whoever he was with when he took one.

Angelo shook his head, "I don't drink."

Dom jerked his head around, almost dropping the bottle in his hand, "You don't drink?" he asked baffled.

"I don't drink," Angelo confirmed.

Letty was dating a guy who didn't drink?

Letty was marrying a guy who didn't drink?

Hell, Letty knew a guy who didn't drink?

Dom took a long swig from his bottle as he went to stand across from Angelo. "Ever?" he asked.

"On average maybe once or twice a year."

Dom nodded slowly his brows arched, "You know... Letty... she drinks," he said a little smugly.

"In my presence," he said slowly, confidently, "...she does not."

The urge to rearrange his face was swift and fierce.

In fact, his arm actually came up, luckily it was the arm with the beer so he just brought it to his lips.

He couldn't hit the guy. That would probably not go over too well...

Nodding slowly, he turned and went to the table again. Asking himself where the hell Mia was and just how long he was expected to be out here with Mr. I-don't-drink-but-my-hair's-shiny without beating the shit out of him.

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

"Letty would you get the trash bag Brian left out there?" Mia asked from the table.

"What?"

"Huh?"

Were the responses she got, both people stared at her as if she'd gone insane.

She had the greatest urge to roll her eyes, but she couldn't, that would ruin the innocence ideal.

"Brian was cleaning up but he left the bag just lying out there. Could you go get it and put it in the trash can," she explained, calmly as if nothing was out of the ordinary, "I don't feel like getting up and he doesn't want to leave me, so could you get it for him?" She finished her smile saying she was sorry to ask.

Brian was staring at her with wide, surprised eyes, he opened his mouth to speak but she elbowed him under the table.

Letty eyed her oddly, "Mia, it doesn't matter..."

"Please Letty,"

"Ok, okay..." Letty said slowly her brows furrowed, she was giving Mia weird looks, "be right back."

The instant she was out the door, Brian turned on his wife, "What the hell do you think your doing Mia?"

"What do you mean?" she asked sweetly.

He reached out and took her hand, "Leave it alone Mia," he warned his eyes searching hers, "Don't get involved,"

"Brian, I don't know what your talking," she said smiling a little; her eyes though, were stormy, as she pulled her hands away.

"They're both committed to other people and they don't need you messing with their lives. They..."

"...can mess up there own lives?" she asked sarcastically, dropping the pretense.

"Pretty much, yeah," Brian responded, "Leave it alone."

"Don't worry about it Brian," she said a little annoyed.

He sighed, "Don't get mad, I just don't want you... to expect things to happen."

She didn't respond.

"Hey look at me," he waited till she did, "don't get upset. I just don't want you to have expectations that they're gonna somehow end up together, when most likely they won't"

"They belong together," she whispered.

Brian tilted his head to the side, "Maybe... I see it, you see it, Leon and Vince see it, but they don't see it Mia, and they're the ones that matter. So I mean it, stop interfering."

She stuck out her bottom lip, "If I tell you I will, I'll be lying. If I tell you I'll try, I'll be lying. If I tell you I won't, you'll be mad. So I'm not saying anything."

Brian sighed, a grin stretching across his face, "Fine then, but I suggest you work out better plans cause today's really suck... way obvious," he said as he leaned to kiss her.

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

The instant she set foot outside, she knew why Mia wanted the trash picked up.

"Hey Let," Dom greeted her, his voice tight.

When Mia and Brian had come inside, she'd figured Angelo had left. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that Mia'd leave Dom alone with Angelo.

Dear God, that was just asking for bloodshed.

"Nice of you to join us," he continued, and she knew he was hanging on to his last thread of civility. Angelo, of course, would have not idea how close he was to being mushed into paste.

"I've just met your future husband." he added, when Letty still said nothing.

"Oh," she said her voice small as she headed for the bag abandoned near the grill.

She went to lift the bag; Angelo was there suddenly, lifting if for her, "Where do want this?" he asked kindly.

"Uh, the trash can..." she said hesitantly.

What would Dom think of Angelo lifting things for her?

What the fuck do you care what Dom thinks!?!

Good point.

"Why don't we all head inside, " she said, whatever the two had been talking about before she got out here, had not been nice. The air was thick with tension; Angelo looked more aloof than usual and Dom looked downright grim.

At least inside, she'd have Mia and Brian as buffer... although Mia was acting a little weird....

Dom nodded getting up, he was rounding the table when he saw it... and couldn't help himself.

Bending he scooped one up, holding it out to her, with an expression of such innocence it would have given Mia a run for her money, "Want a beer, Let?"

"Sur...." she said automatically and started reaching for it, but stopped herself.

Angelo was here.

Unconsciously, she turned her head a little to meet his eyes, her hand still outstretched. She didn't drink when Angelo was around, he didn't like it, so she didn't do it.

... but Dom was holding it out to her... waiting for her to take it...

...she met his eyes and found him smirking and his eyes dancing with laughter...

Was he laughing at her?

Why would he? He couldn't possibly know... unless... she looked back to Angelo quickly... they had been out here for a while.

Her eyes narrowed as she faced Dom, her hand dropping, "No thanks," she said her tone telling him she knew what he was playing at.

His smirk turned into a smile as he shrugged carelessly, removing the cap on the bottle he walked towards her. "Too bad, it's hot today."

It was a useless statement, everyone knew it, it was hot everyday. It served only to increase Letty's want for one.

When he was less then a three feet away, he brought the beer to his lips and took a long drink. Tipping his head back a little but keeping his eyes fastened on hers.

"Ahhhhhhh," he said, satisfied, "that's good," he was smiling at her.

And she wanted to hit him....

Of course, she wanted a beer and he knew it too.....

Her eyes were still narrowed and as she watched him pass her and head inside, ooooooh that was cruel.... taunting her with the beer... but she'd get even, he could be sure of that.....

"Letty?" Angelo's soft voice broke into her thoughts.

"Uh, yeah?" she said turning her head but her eyes still on the doorway he'd walked through.

"You wanted to go inside?" he said motioning for her to go in front of him. That was the polite thing to do, not like Dom who'd just turned his back on her and left.

Ladies first, that was the polite thing, and Angelo was polite.

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

Now why did you do that? Dom asked himself as he entered the kitchen. Like he didn't have enough problems without goading Letty into a mood.

It was just... the guy didn't drink!

It was just .... inconceivable.

At least in a guy Letty was dating.

Mia murmured something to him, he wasn't really listening, but murmured something back. He was headed for the stairs and planned to spend some quality time with his son and nieces.

He'd ignored them yesterday.

Yesterday had been a bad day.

It had taken all his hard learned control to keep him from smashing things yesterday.

He'd taken the papers to he post office.

In a few days he'd be divorced.

The thought had made him want to destroy. Anything. Everything.

He was angry.

At Kara for being so sure... she was right... it was for the best...

... for asking him to save her...

At himself for being so unsure... was she right?... was it for the best?...

... for saving her...

Cars and liquor that's what he'd needed.... a race would have been good too. But that hadn't been possible at the moment so he'd taken what he could get.

At about eight last night -- after snapping at everyone who came through those doors -- including the kids. He'd come to a decision.

Maybe she was right. Maybe they did need a divorce, but not forever. Just a chance to break for a while...

He'd made the resolve to follow her to Canada, when he left here, but instead of pleading his case as he'd planned to. He'd make her fall in love with him again.

He'd show up there, rent an apartment or something, and proceed to wooing her.

It wouldn't be hard.

She loved him

For some reason though she'd fixated on this divorce, okay, he'd done that but he wasn't letting her go.

The little voice, which he'd shoved to the back of his mind, kept niggling at him though; kept insisting that he was still bashing his head against the brick wall.

That he was being purposely obtuse and refusing to accept what was clear as day in front of him.

He ignored that little voice, though, he had to. Because he wasn't ready yet. He wasn't ready to accept that he'd lost her.

That for the second time in his life, he'd let the woman he loved slip through his fingers.

It wasn't fair. He couldn't lose her too....

So he decided to spend the day in the girls' bedroom laying on his stomach, his chin in his hands while the girls both sat on his back, alternating between who sat in front and who sat in back. They were playing the latest Spiderman game-- and failing miserably. The skill level required was a little more than they could handle. It took him about an hour to realize they didn't even like the game.

"Mommy," Dolly explained earnestly, "...she says that da' guys jus use us as excuses to buy da stuff d'they want to play."

"Yeah," Jessa confirmed, "...cause once we's wanted dis Barbie game an d'they said d'they'd get it for us later, but instead's they bought us dis race car game..."

"Which was fun..." Dolly interrupted.

"yeah, jus not Barbie." Jessa finished.

Taylor frowned up at them from his seat next to his dad's head, "Why would you wants a Barbie game?"

Dolly scowled back, "Cause we like Barbie, dat a problem?"

Taylor rolled his eyes, "Kind of, she's a girl."

Dom sucked in a breath, uh-oh, not a good thing to say....

Dolly narrowed her eyes, "We're girls Taylor...."

He nodded, "yeah, but..."

"And Mommy's a girl...." Jessa added.

"yeah, but..."

"And Auntie Let's a girl..."

"I know but...."

"So what's wrong with Barbie bein a girl?"

Taylor sighed, "Nothin, I guess."

"That's right Taylor," Dolly affirmed her eyes back to the screen, "d'there's nothing wrong with bein a girl, you'd be lucky if you were a girl. But your a boys so you're not."

Dom wanted to laugh. He didn't of course, he didn't want a tongue lashing from the mini activists on top of him, but the urge was strong.

His poor son, never even got a word out....

He didn't look over at the boy either, but later he'd have a talk with Taylor about the things one just didn't say in front of girls....

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

"Shit Dom, what's wit you. We're losin money here..." Vince whispered furiously at Dom, later that day.

Letty had entered the room about an hour and a half after he'd gotten there, proclaiming it was her turn to play with the kids. The instant she'd walked into that room he'd slid the girls off him and claimed he wanted to check on Mia.

He didn't want to be around her. Didn't like the things that happened when he was.

He couldn't seem to remember... anything when he was around her.

Not Kara, not Taylor, not the life he wanted with them... all he could remember was them.

What she and him had been.

How they'd been -- the good times. The teasing, the smiles, unspoken innuendos -- it was all he could remember when he saw her. When he met her dark eyes....

"What the hell you talkin about?" he asked Vince, his brows furrowed.

Dom, Vince, Leon, Brian, and Angelo were milling around the yard. All were dressed nicely, although no one as formally as Angelo.

They had all been kicked out of the house; Letty and Mia claiming they were all just in the way. The guys just wanted to start up the barbecue but Mia was dead set on this dinner.

And anyway, Leon had informed him, Angelo didn't like the barbecue's.

"What you mean he doesn't like the barbecues? Why the hell not?" he'd asked.

Leon had shrugged, looking a little pleased, "Got me," he'd said carelessly, "...but he doesn't like it when Letty comes either. They always have a big fight when she comes to one if he's in town."

Dom had glowered at the man across the yard.

Vince answered roughly, still scowling, "I had you in for one hour at the most... it's been all day...."

Dom scowled back, "What the hell are you talkin about and why the fuck are you whisperin!" He, nonetheless, whispered back.

"You haven't even so much as taken a swing at the guy!"

"What guy?!"

"Angelo!"

Dom was gonna respond in the same heated way but instead took a moment to calm himself as the implication of what Vince was saying hit him.

"And why would I swing at Angelo?"

"Why?... would... what?..." he sputtered his eyes going round, "Why the hell do you think?"

Dom smirked, and shrugged carelessly, looking over to where Brian, Leon, and Angelo were gathered in the dimming daylight. He felt a pang of sympathy for Brian who'd been forced to hang out with the guy all day.

"I have no idea..." he said simply looking back at Vince.

"He's marryin Letty..."

Dom nodded, "So I heard."

Vince just stared at him incredulously, "And your okay with that?" he asked something akin to horror in his face.

Dom glowered at him, "What the fuck does it matter what I'm okay wit? It's her life, Vee, not mine."

Okay so his voice was harsher than he'd wanted it to be, but geez, the question had hit him hard...

Was he okay with that?

HELL NO!

Why wasn't he okay with that?

He didn't know.

He should be okay with it, but.... there was something that just didn't... seem right about Letty marrying this guy.

He was too... suave.

Too polite.

Too poster-boy for the American dream...

Arrrrg, he didn't know what it was exactly, it was just something, that didn't mesh with the type of guy Letty should be with...

And how would you know what type of guy she should be with?

"Chill, bro, it was jus a question," Vince's words stopped him from acknowledging the little voice. Thank God.

Dom took in a breath, running his hand over his head, "I know, I know. Look, Vee, Letty... she can do whatever she wants. It's not my place to be or not be okay with what she does. I don't have that right, anymore."

They were probably the wisest words he'd ever said concerning himself and Letty.

Now if he could only get himself to truly believe them, things would be great.

Vince looked extremely put out for a minute, before facing away from Dom and stating in his regular tone, "That's the biggest load of bullshit I've heard since Dolly told me she didn't mean to flush Jessa's new Malibu Barbie mirror down the toilet."

Dom smirked, the light was fading but he knew Vince was grinning, "Fine so I get the urge to put my fist into his face every time he opens his mouth... and I want to go in there and shake the crap outa the girl until she picks up the freakin marbles she lost at some point in the last five years -- but I ain't gonna do it Vee."

Vince sighed, "You're sure? Cause I was hopin you'd at least shove the guy into a wall..."

Dom couldn't help it, he laughed, "How much do you get if I shove him into a wall?"

"Before dinner: $80; After dinner: $40; During dinner: $30."

"You need me to do it now, huh?" Dom asked, amused.

"I figured you wouldn't be able to wait till after dinner and that you wouldn't during dinner cause the kids'd be there."

Dom nodded, "I'm impressed, Vee, you thought that out real well..."

"Thanks," he said beaming with pride, "That's Sonya's influence, she says if I think before I do things they usually turn out better."

"Good advise."

Vince nodded, "yea..." he started to say but never finished.

Mia appeared at the door then, signaling that it was okay for them to come back in now.

Hey, they'd only been outside for an hour or so.

"Thanks for having us..." he murmured to Mia as he passed her. She swatted his shoulder.

Brian was wrapping his arms around her when he turned back around and he had to grin at them... he hoped they'd always be like that.

"Dinner's ready, you can go into the dining room," Mia said as Brian nuzzled her neck.

A glance at Angelo found him glaring daggers at the amorous couple. Dom frowned at him, "You got a problem?" he asked roughly. His voice silenced the room as all attention fell to him and Angelo.

The guys started twitching with excitement.

Angelo removed his gaze from Brian and Mia, he said coldly as he spoke to Dom, "Display's like that are unnecessary when there are guests in ones home."

Dom opened his mouth to speak but Letty beat him to it, "There aren't guests in their home, Angelo, there's family," she said sweetly as she walked up to him.

Their eyes met for a moment and when he looked up he smiled, "I suppose your right, I may have overreacted..."

"Quite possibly," Mia interjected, from the doorway, where Brian hadn't so much as moved an inch.

"Let's go eat, people," Letty said leading the way... and pulling Angelo with her.

The guys all had decidedly disappointed looks on their faces, while Dom's expression was hard.

In the dining room, the kids were already seated -- and dressed very properly.

The girls were wearing identical dresses with satin bows on the side and Taylor slacks with a shirt tucked in.

Sitting next to his son, Dom asked softly, "Did you thank Auntie Mia for tucking your shirt in?" The little boy hadn't yet mastered the skill of inserting the clothes into his pants and pulling his hand out without pulling the clothes with it.

"No, " he answered simply,

Dom's brows rose, his son was usually very good with please, thank you, and excuse me -- courtesy of his mother, "Why not?" he asked.

Looking at his father, Taylor said easily "... cause L-w-etty did it. She got all us, ready for dinner. Auntie Mia did the table."

"Oh," Dom said, not knowing what else to say.

Letty had dressed his son.

The image had him searching her out across the table.

She was talking to Angelo -- smiling at him.

What did she see in that guy?

He sighed turning his attention back to his son.

It didn't matter...

....she wasn't his concern...

...he had no right to her...

Sure keep telling yourself that, the little voice said; and as Brian said grace and Mia passed around bowls of food, he simply -- did.

Hoping, praying that if he repeated it over and over again, it would be true.

Knowing deep inside, that it never would be.

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